Chapter 16
“Be careful. You will probably regret what you said today for the rest of your life.”
Those words were a warning for the future. After all, who knew how things might change after Jae-Hyeok awakened?
Jae-Hyeok sighed. Unfortunately, today I can only be one-sidedly beaten.
Necromancers were among the top figures even in the fierce battlefields of Europe. They were a one-person army. Jae-Hyeok had heard that the head of the Baus family had single-handedly attacked and cleared an S-grade gate while fighting off many same-ranked players competing to do the same.
The difference in strength was obvious: Loren had awakened with a noble Bloodline Skill, whereas Jae-Hyeok had yet to even awaken. He was no match for Loren. That much was plain.
Nevertheless, Jae-Hyeok wasn’t nervous. Thoughts of battle intoxicated him, and his blood boiled.
This is an opportunity to accurately gauge my stats.
Jae-Hyeok was extremely curious about his stats.
Non-awakened were unable to see their own stats. That information remained locked on their system window. So Jae-Hyeok could only test his body directly to gain insight into his current stats.
However, that intruder who’d broken into his estate and the ordinary students at Lion’s Castle wasn’t suitable for him to test his limits on.
Loren, on the other hand, would be more than capable of assessing Jae-Hyeok’s skills.
Jae-Hyeok involuntarily smiled and slipped his hand inside his coat.
Clack, clack, clack.
He loosened the binding straps and freed himself of his body weights. He immediately felt looser and lighter.
Loren frowned. What is he doing? What does that nonsense mean? Previously, the power behind his own attack wasn’t great because he thought it would be enough to deal with Jae-Hyeok.
In Loren’s eyes, Jae-Hyeok wasn’t an outstanding person. Jae-Hyeok’s level seemed low, so probably, he had only awakened recently, and moreover, he hadn’t developed a Bloodline Skill. No matter how far it had fallen, the Kang family was still one of the most famous families, and yet Jae-Hyeok’s abilities were disappointing.
He wouldn’t be able to rebuild his family. Or at least, that was what Loren had thought. But Jae-Heyok had just given him an ominous warning before fiddling with the straps on his body. It isn’t just a bluff. The power of a prestigious family shouldn’t be ignored, even a fallen one.
Knowing that Jae-Hyeok was from a famous family in South Korea, Loren was cautious. When he was young and living in Europe, he remembered hearing about the Yaksha.
The opponent is the Yaksha’s son. There must be a hidden trump card.
Should I take out the Coffin?
No, this isn’t a matter of life and death. Loren quickly denied the thought, realizing that he’d almost gotten too excited in a peaceful foreign country. For now, I will start by testing him.
Just as the uncharacteristically excited Jae-Hyeok and the nervous Loren pointed their swords at each other, other students stepped forward, around a dozen of them.
They surrounded Loren protectively, and one of them said, “Hey, why are you meddling in other people’s affairs? What right do you have to interfere with Loren-nim’s friendship?”
Although lacking the opportunity to power level, there were reasons why talented people from all over the country still chose to enter Lion’s Castle. The school represented an opportunity to build connections. The gate’s high-quality learning environment was nice, sure, but it was the chance to network that motivated some of the most talented of the aristocracy to join.
The social network that they built while at Lion’s Castle would go on to serve them well once they entered society. The Baus family was one of the best families in Europe, so many students coveted the opportunity to win Loren’s favor.
“Why are you sabotaging a nobleman who came all the way to South Korea to learn rather than helping him? Kang Jae-Hyeok, what do you have to say?”
“You’re a joke. You dare to oppose the Baus family?”
“As a fallen aristocrat, you must be jealous. How despicable.”
Nearly half of the students at the training ground were on Loren’s side.
Loren was accustomed to this type of situation. He relaxed and raised his chin confidently. The way he looked at Jae-Hyeok made his meaning clear. There’s nothing you can do, so put away your pride and step aside.
Jae-Hyeok remained calm.
He was used to this type of situation.
Being unfairly criticized by groups of people was something he experienced every day, so he didn’t mind.
When Loren saw that Jae-Hyeok was unfazed despite being surrounded by dozens of students, he grew nervous. Is he so strong that he still thinks he has a chance of winning?
“W-wait a minute!”
A student suddenly stood at Jae-Hyeok’s side.
A single girl suddenly appeared beside Jae-Hyeok, standing with him against Loren, who was supported by dozens of people.
It was Chae Da-Hee, the first-year runner-up. She had been watching the situation in a corner of the training ground.
She cried out, “Stop! Everyone, please act in moderation! Group fighting will only make matters worse.”
Jae-Hyeok responded first, “No, that bastard won’t give up Baek Do-Jin.”
“I don’t need to ask for your permission to take Do-Jin,” Loren said.
Jae-Hyeok turned to Da-Hee. “You see? He can’t be reasoned with.”
Da-Hee signaled with her eyes for Jae-Hyeok to be quiet. She advised Loren, “Excuse me, Loren-nim? Under the circumstances, we can’t hand over this senior. I also saw that Senior Do-Jin dislikes you, and you caused his current state. Why should we trust Senior Do-Jin to you?”
“...I didn’t even attack Do-Jin.”
“Huh?”
Come to think of it, he was right…
The flustered Chae Da-Hee fell silent, and the students who sided with Loren started to talk excitedly.
“Y-yes! The little boy got hurt due to his own rampage! Loren is the victim! Chae Da-Hee, who are you to criticize Loren-nim?”
Loren told her, “Do-Jin and I are friends as close as brothers. There is a misunderstanding right now, so Do-Jin tried to push me away. The misunderstanding will eventually be resolved.”
Loren paused to gather his thoughts. Since Korean wasn’t his mother tongue, it was frustrating for Loren to convey his meaning. He needed time to think about what he wanted to say and how to say it.
Loren prepared to say more, but a change on Jae-Hyeok’s side made him close his mouth.
The number of students standing beside Jae-Hyeok and Da-Hee had increased rapidly. They were the second-year students who had initially tried to stop Do-Jin.
All the students supporting Loren were first-year students, so the atmosphere turned in Jae-Hyeok’s favor.
One second-year student said, “Loren-nim, based on Do-Jin’s reaction, we just can’t trust what you’re saying. Let’s stop here today. If the commotion here becomes louder, the teachers will probably come, and you will have fewer opportunities to face Do-Jin.”
“......”
Loren’s gold eyes became colder. The students didn’t quite understand why they got goosebumps, but Jae-Hyeok was rather surprised. He’d caught the killing intent that had flashed through Loren’s eyes.
It was shocking that a boy as young as Loren seemed to have already killed so many people. Perhaps the reason was that Europe was a fierce battleground where many countries gathered.
The young master of one of Austria’s top families seemed to have much practical experience.
...Well, things seem to have calmed down to a certain extent, so let’s just wrap it up.
Jae-Hyeok slowly strapped the body weights back on his body and helped Do-Jin to his feet. He shot Loren a look. “If you have any sense, just give up and leave.”
“The son of Duke Kang Dae-Guk... You must remember that it will be difficult for you to win my favor.”
“Yes, right back at you.”
Shoo shoo.
Jae-Hyeok waved his hand and left the training ground with Do-Jin on his back. Loren’s supporters shouted in a threatening manner, but he just put a finger in his ears as if they were barking dogs.
Chae Da-Hee caught up with Jae-Hyeok. “You’re taking him to get treated?”
“Yeah. I need to get to the infirmary. He’s full of broken bones.”
“No. What happened might reach the teacher’s ears if you do that.” Chae Da-Hee pulled out a small bottle of medicine with an expression of reluctance.
It was a potion.
“Wow, isn’t this a potion? Are you rich?”
Da-Hee explained, “Class A’s courses will include monster hunting starting next week. This is a pre-issued supply.”
Jae-Hyeok was surprised. “Then what are you going to use?”
“I’ll be okay without it. For now, the monsters we’re going to hunt will be low level. You can repay me later when Class B receives their supply of potions.”
Jae-Hyeok grabbed the potion even as he said, “Put the tab on Baek Do-Jin.” Then he sprayed the potion all over Do-Jin.
Do-Jin’s hands had been damaged by the shield, but he’d also cracked his ribs and broken his nose while rolling on the ground.
Jae-Hyeok sighed. “...Is he an idiot?”
Da-Hee told him, “Flash Step is a powerful skill, but it’s hard to control. I heard that there have been three other users of Flash Step in Korean history, but none of them mastered the Skill in their lifetime.”
“It wasn’t that they couldn’t do it, but that they didn’t do it. The risk is too high when practicing Flash Step, so they became scared to do it.”
“Excuse me... Thank you for helping Do-Jin.” The second-year students following Jae-Hyeok and Da-Hee suddenly thanked them.
“That kid named Loren is a necromancer from the Baus family, right? To be honest, we were scared to intervene. We were able to muster up our courage thanks to you.”
“Are you Do-Jin’s friend?”
“—No.”
The second-year students immediately denied it. There was no way they could be friends with that type of guy.
Jae-Hyeok let out an empty laugh. “You aren’t friends, so why should you step up? There is no need to be thankful.”
“Still, he is a colleague.”
“......”
Friends and colleagues.
These concepts were unfamiliar to Jae-Hyeok, who had been confined to a mansion. However, there was something in those words that resonated with him.
Jae-Hyeok suddenly realized that he had only learned negative concepts for the past eight years.
“U-Uhhh...”
Do-Jin groaned as if he was slowly coming to his senses.
The second-year students left the scene as if fleeing. Only Jae-Hyeok and Da-Hee remained next to Do-Jin.
Jae-Hyeok sighed. “This guy’s personality is so bad that they run away because they don’t want to deal with him. Unbelievable.”
Da-Hee looked at Jae-Hyeok strangely, “I think it’s understandable.”
“Really? Do you also think his personality is that bad?”
“No?”
Didn’t Jae-Hyeok know that she was talking about him?
Da-Hee’s big eyes widened as she made an expression that implied this, but Jae-Hyeok was different from Yoo-Jin. He couldn’t read her thoughts from her expression.
Jae-Hyeok asked, “By the way, why did you come forward? You aren’t his friend, right?”
“That… ”
It’s because I thought of someone when I saw you. Da-Hee thought of the Yaksha, and then she thought of how Jae-Hyeok had cooly stood up for Do-Jin “...F-forget it. I’ll be going now.”
“How boring,” Jae-Hyeok muttered as he waved his hand to the departing Chae Da-Hee and looked down at Do-Jin.
Do-Jin had already opened his eyes. He stretched out and stared up at the sky in a daze.
Jae-Hyeok sprawled down next to him.
The intense sun was like Loren’s golden eyes. In other words, it was pretty annoying today.
“Why aren’t you asking me anything?” Do-Jin finally looked away from the sun and asked.
“What’s the point?” Jae-Hyeok replied as if he wasn’t interested. “Speak if you think it will make you feel better. I’ll listen.”
“...Th… ”
“Eh?”
“Thank… ”
“Where are you going with this? Did you get tongue-tied because you hung out with a foreigner for a while?”
“Ugh. Let’s go train! You said that you are going to make me stronger! I need to become stronger! I’m going to kill that bastard Loren one day!”
Baek Do-Jin jumped up and shouted angrily. His face was red, and combined with his red hair, he looked like a tomato.
“Uh... Okay.”
As he stood, Jae-Hyeok fell into his thoughts. How could a person kill a necromancer? He wasn’t sure, but he firmly believed nothing in the world was impossible.
Without that faith, he would’ve been frustrated and collapsed many times.
“Let’s go! I will beat you up with all my heart!”
“Ah? I said to train, not to beat me up. Are you crazy?”
“You’re surprisingly smart, so you’re skills will naturally improve the more I hit you.”
What he really needs is to get used to Flash Steps… Jae-Hyeok laughed wickedly, sending a chill down Do-Jin’s spine.
He couldn’t help asking, “You... Have you ever taught anyone?”
“Yes, when I was young.”
“How old were you if you were younger than you are now?”
Jae-Hyeok told him, “It doesn’t matter. From now on, think before you act. You didn’t even take off your body weights before attacking Loren.”
“Uh? Oh right, no wonder my body felt heavy… ”
“Now that’s just beyond stupid. Tsk tsk.”
Jae-Hyeok didn’t know why, but he was in a particularly good mood today.
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