The Duke's Son :Re-Chapter 216

Chapter 216
[Noble Chivalry responds to your great deeds.]
[A sixth code of chivalry has been established.]
Jae-Hyeok loved his family more than anything. And for the sake of his family, he’d chosen Noble Chivalry over awakening his Kang family’s Bloodline Skill.
It was a choice of pragmatism over pride.
Noble Chivalry’s potential seemed limitless. Righteousness, compassion, honor... Any time he upheld the code of chivalry, he created a new Skill. Such a powerful ability seemed to shatter all convention. It was to the point that if his ancestors rolled out of their graves, they likely wouldn’t blame him.
[Devoted to Flames.
A knight who burned his own body for the things he had to protect.
* Fire resistance and fire affinity are both increased by 20%.
The more fire damage you take, the more this effect scales.]
Jae-Hyeok was elated.
A passive Skill!
The temperature abruptly cooled. He no longer felt hot but warm, and as if responding to his new fire affinity, the surrounding flames retreated from Jae-Hyeok’s feet.
Then, the last of the fifteen light pillars faded from Jae-Hyeok.
“This is unbelievable.”
The vassals of the Shinra family arrived at the scene and were astonished.
Having burned through the manor's protective magic, the entire hallway and room were covered in black ash. No trace of the furniture remained, and standing in the center of the desolation was Jae-Hyeok.
“Did Young Master Kang defeat the enemies alone?” the Rakshasa asked, having recognized the Kang emblem on the rags Jae-Hyeok wore.
“Uh...” Jae-Hyeok inclined his head, then inclined it further... By the time he made eye contact with the Rakshasa, he’d lifted his chin by forty degrees.
The Rakshasa was a sight to behold: It stood as tall as a giant, with a waist that measured over two meters around, and arms wrapped in thick iron chains. The chains terminated in a pair of massive iron balls that dangled freely from its wrists. It was no wonder that the Rakshasa was the Shinra family’s guardian deity—even Jae-Hyeok felt overwhelmed in its presence. He imagined one look from it would be all it took to make ordinary intruders faint.
Jae-Hyeok collected his thoughts and replied, “That’s right. I’ve handled the intruders here.”
The Rakshasa blinked its palm-sized eyes. “... You are indeed a National Treasure candidate.”
To Jae-Hyeok’s surprise, the Rakshasa followed its word with a bow. The gesture was shallow, restricted by its belly rolls, but the sincerity was apparent.
The vassals of the Shinra family were equally surprised.
Did the Rakshasa just show respect?
This was the first time they had seen the Rakshasa bow to someone other than the head of the family. Before they could recover from the previous shock, the Rakshasa removed its robe and draped it over Jae-Hyeok.
“My clothes might not look like much, but they are clean.”
“Um... thank you.”
Jae-Hyeok looked like a child peeking from a blanket, but hearing his friends approaching, he accepted the Rakshasa’s robe.
“See! I told you he was okay! Jae-Hyeok is a genius!”
“What does being a genius have to do with surviving in a pit of fire?”
“He conquered a thunder tribulation. With a flick of his sword, even flames scatter!”
“I-is that so?”
“Of course. He’s standing right there, isn’t he? What’s there to doubt?”
“Do-Jin,” Jae-Hyeok interrupted as his friends neared. “Last I checked, you bunch were poisoned and choking on smoke, nearly suffocating to death. Can’t you even pretend to be embarrassed?”
Do-Jin’s excitement fizzled. “Oh.”
“I mean, seriously, you didn’t notice anything strange while eating poisoned food? Nothing at all?”
“I was so hungry that I ate in a hurry...”
“
Sigh.
Just learn from this and be more careful next time. No matter where you are, there’s always a way to fall.”
“Yes...”
On any other day, Baek Do-Jin would have pouted, complaining that his junior was nagging him just because the junior was a little better at fighting.
As far as Do-Jin was concerned, no matter how high Jae-Hyeok’s status climbed, that had nothing to do with him. Jae-Hyeok was Jae-Hyeok; Do-Jin had never once controlled his mouth, and he especially wouldn’t around his friend.
But today was different. Subjected to Jae-Hyeok’s scolding, Do-Jin obediently lowered his head. He was well aware of how embarrassing it was to be poisoned while eating. Given a player’s senses, it was inexcusable.
Do-Jin thought,
We acted like fools, and Jae-Hyeok had to fight alone again...
While Jae-Hyeok had been undergoing farming lessons in Reinhardt, Do-Jin, alongside Da-Hee and Hae-Rin, had achieved tremendous growth under Park Chang-Cheon’s direct support, clearing high-grade gates one after another. They had each gained at least 20 levels.
Following the end of summer vacation and his return to school, Do-Jin had no doubt that he would be the best among the second-year students.
And yet, despite this, despite all his rapid improvements, he couldn’t do anything when it truly mattered.
He’d been useless during the attack at Jae-Hyeok’s manor, and just now, he’d been useless again, leaving Jae-Hyeok and Shinra Kyeong to handle everything.
And it’s because of me...
At school, Jae-Hyeok had put his life on the line to protect him from Loren. And now, once more, Jae-Hyeok had risked himself to save his friends.
Do-Jin’s eyes sharpened into a glare.
Am I going to keep taking the fucking bus?
The Rakshasa looked at Do-Jin in slight surprise. The killing intent radiating from Do-Jin’s small body was extraordinary.
Solid was the right word for it.
He is a rare gem. Under the right guidance, he’ll surely become strong. What’s more...
The Rakshasa swept its eyes across the other children below. It wasn’t just Do-Jin; all of them were extraordinary.
The Kang family...
It is definitely beginning to rise.
The Rakshasa returned its attention to Jae-Hyeok.
For Young Master Kang to prop up the Kang family and breathe new life into it... His sheer strength must rival an equally unyielding character. One day... might he even surpass the Yaksha?
Shinra Kyeong joined the group then, having finished treating the last patient. He locked eyes with Jae-Hyeok but struggled to find the words.
“Kang Jae-Hyeok, you...”
He was the only one besides Jae-Hyeok himself who’d been conscious from beginning to end; he knew the extent of the peril Jae-Hyeok had faced; had Jae-Hyeok failed to level up, or had he failed to kill the three zombies quickly, he would’ve died without a doubt.
“Why go so far?”
Shinra Kyeong simply couldn’t understand it. But then he became aware of himself: he, who stood alone—his vassals waiting calmly by the door—and Jae-Hyeok, who stood surrounded by people.
Still, is that worth risking your life for? Jae-Hyeok, what good is it to be surrounded by people holding you back?
Shinra Kyeong blew a lock of silver hair from his face and frowned, only to hear the Rakshasa tell him,
“Running a family has similarities to farming. A large family is like a large plot of land. The more hands, the better. But the kind of help also matters: Invite people into your family, and your lands will be cultivated for a lifetime. Hire your help, and you never know when everything might vanish overnight.”
Shinra Kyeong scoffed, “You are comparing a noble's affairs to farming?”
“Everything in this world holds value.”
“Tell that to those zombies.”
Suddened, the scorched house shook violently, shaking free a rain of ash. Beyond the blackened and warped windows, two armies charged down the streets.
Wahhhh!
“They dared to bring corpses into the sacred Shinra family! Don’t forgive the intruders!”
“Bah! The dogs of a small country don’t know how to fear tigers!”
Hundreds of Shinra family members dressed in traditional robes clashed fiercely with the undead army. At first glance, it seemed like the undead army was isolated and on the defensive.
However, despite their numerical advantage, the Shinra members struggled to advance. The skeletons and zombies were unfazed by mortal wounds, rising continuously to offset their smaller numbers and drive the Shinra members into a passive situation.
“Hahahaha!”
As the undead army fought, the magicians in the backline, all wearing green skull brooches, finished their casting and unleashed grand spells.
Baang!
Bang bang bang!
The Shinra family’s centuries-old city was collapsing.
"
Kuaaaak
!"
The members of the Shinra family found themselves surrounded by the undead, screaming as powerful spells struck them. Mana blades diced some, others were frozen solid, and some were engulfed in flames. Trapped in the chaos was Shinra Kyeong’s young entourage. They had been caught up in the battle while trying to fetch healers.
“Ja-Ha...!”
Shinra Kyeong’s eyes widened. He nearly charged into the battle but hesitated at the last moment. The undead army clearly held the advantage, and he was exhausted as it was. Even if he joined, likely nothing would change.
Above all, risking himself was risking his family—were he to die here, it was impossible to know how the government might react under the Baus family’s pressuring. If the Yaksha had taught him anything, it was that his Shinra family might be the ones left paying the price.
Shinra Kyeong knew all of this. An yet...
Recalling Jae-Hyeok throwing himself into the flames to save his friends, Shinra Kyeong suddenly understood his feelings.
I just can’t bear to do nothing.
With that thought, Shinra Kyeong shattered the window and flew out, gliding across the lawn on a gust of wind.
“Ja-Ha! Ja-Du, I’m coming.”
They had been by his side for so long; he’d thought he’d kept enough distance, but seeing them threatened had awakened him to the truth:
Shinra Kyeong let out a resigned chuckle.
In the end, I’m also a human.
Meanwhile, the Rakshasa’s eyes widened in surprise.
Is Young Master Shinra... going to save someone?
It stared blankly at Shinra Kyeong’s shrinking back before coming to its senses. It turned to Jae-Hyeok and praised, “Young Master Kang has given the future head of the Shinra family a great lesson. You are the benefactor of the Shinra family in many ways.”
Jae-Hyeok shook his head.
“No. He was always that type of person.”
When Loren had kidnapped Do-Jin, Jae-Hyeok had been in desperate straits trying to save him, and he likely would’ve died if not for Shinra Kyeong’s intervention. Just as now, Shinra Kyeong had jumped into danger to save others.
“Is that so?” The Rakshasa asked.
“Definitely! He’s not so bad when it counts,” Do-Jin replied vigorously. Then he placed a hand on Jae-Hyeok’s back. “Let’s finish it with
that
.”
“Okay.”
The next instant, the boys disappeared—and immediately reappeared above Shinra Kyeong’s head in the depths of the chaos.
Surrounded by undead, Shinra Kyeong was hacking through the throng with his glowing zweihander. While several ranks ahead, the Baus mages were preparing a round of spells.
Do-Jin locked onto the mages. “Space—”
He and Jae-Hyeok disappeared once more, reappearing between Shinra Kyeong and the Baus mages.
“Slash.”
A red ripple swept out in a wide area, divorcing heads from necks—the mages, who had been preparing to bombard Shinra Kyeong with spells, collapsed like puppets with their strings cut.
Shinra Kyeong looked over, his heart pounding.
“With this, the debt is paid,” Jae-Hyeok called out.