CHAPTER 100

Jae-Hyeok’s gaze rested on the bodies of the two team leaders.

What ugly people.

These people who abandoned their comrades were no different from the ones who had turned their backs on the Kang Family.

What happened to them? Where are they now? Jae-Hyeok’s eyes were dark as he recalled the faces of those he’d foolishly relied on as a child, his mind sinking into an abyss of hatred, anger, and killing intent.

Shaking off his dark thoughts, Jae-Hyeok said to the others, “You’ve worked hard.”

The Jaegyeong Pharmaceuticals employees and Song Se-Yeong were in a pitiful state. He could see how desperately they’d fought against the orc army.

“It was hard, but you did so much more. We’re alive thanks to you.”’

“T... Thank you, and I’m sorry.”

Nobody in the group said much about their experience. The boy before them had held back an ogre alone to save them. They worried that going into detail would cause him unnecessary worry or make him feel responsible.

Jae-Hyeok smiled slightly after seeing their consideration.

These were beautiful people. They had lured the orcs away in a situation where their lives were already on the line, and they fought by relying on each other to the end. This greatly impressed Jae-Hyeok.

But he was also worried.

He told them, “If something similar happens in the future, run away without looking back. What the hell were you thinking when you lured the orcs away?”

“You should also act moderately.” Department Manager Gu clicked his tongue. “I’ve seen you slaughter the orcs, and you shook off the ogre. I know you’re strong. However, there are many terrifying monsters in the world that ogres and orcs can’t compare to.”

Department Manager Gu looked at the corpses of the team leaders. “Also, there are many humans more dangerous than monsters, as many as the stones on the side of the road. If you believe in your skills and try to be a hero, you might really suffer for it one day.”

Department Manager Gu took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth.

His lungs had fully recovered thanks to the high-grade potion Jae-Hyeok had given him. He even felt healthier than before.

“Well, when an unqualified person nags you just because he’s older, it’ll probably sound like nonsense. Feel free to let it pass in one ear and out the other. I’ll pay you back for the potion, so don’t worry too much...

“Ah, really, the more I think about it, the stranger you are. Why on earth did you stand up to protect us from the ogre? And as if that wasn’t enough, you even gave me a high-grade potion. Are you insane?”

In the end, Department Manager Gu forgot to light his cigarette.

The more he thought about Jae-Hyeok’s behavior, the more confused he became, and even his craving for a smoke fell to the back of his mind.

After a moment of muttering to himself, Jae-Hyeok smiled and said, “Thank you for the advice. Let’s go find Seong-Hyeon now.”

Truly, he was grateful for the fortunate and meaningful connections he had gained.

Jae-Hyeok quickened his pace with the group.

***

“What type of relationship do you have with the Yaksha’s son?” Lee So-Yeong stopped walking and asked.

As the professor of mana studies, she was highly skilled at sensing and manipulating mana. Her perception was naturally remarkable. In Lion’s Castle, it was safe to say that her perception was second only to Seol Su-Ah.

That was why she had shown up in the forest so quickly.

She had sensed an ogre’s mana in the forest, something which shouldn’t exist there, and rushed straight over to figure out what was happening. But what she sensed later on was even more shocking.

She’d sensed the mana of that boy Kang Jae-Hyeok, whom she’d met during her first-year special lecture—and she’d sensed it just after the ogre’s mana had disappeared.

She got goosebumps.

It meant the weak boy from a few months ago had grown enough to kill an ogre.

He isn’t human.

He was a lot like his father... Recalling their similar personalities, Lee So-Yeong was reminded of why she never wanted to be involved with them for the rest of her life.

Cho Seong-Hyeon said, “Young Master Jae-Hyeok? I am greatly indebted to him.”

“...Indebted? You’ve already been fooled.”

“Haha! Professor, why are you joking? Young Master Jae-Hyeok has already saved my life twice and even given me enlightenment in martial arts.”

Cho Seong-Hyeon proceeded to explain in detail what he had been through.

Lee So-Yeong’s kept tilting her head as she listened to the story.

“...You’re saying he helped with no strings attached? Is he that sociable?”

“Yes. He is an aristocrat among aristocrats.”

“But in the end, didn’t you give him two high-grade potions? You are clearly being tricked... No, forget it. Let’s stop talking here.”

After hearing from Cho Seong-Hyeon about the hobgoblin incident, Lee So-Yeong realized someone inside the school was targeting Cho Seong-Hyeon.

They are using tamed monsters...

Monster Taming was a common Skill because it could be learned from a Skill Book and players with a high Magic stat favored it greatly. It would be difficult to identify the culprit just by looking at the tamed monsters.

I’ll have to look into it myself.

It was possible to track down the magician using the remnants of mana left on the corpses of the tamed monsters. However, only Lee So-Yeong, who had created and mastered dozens of mana control techniques, could do it.

“I’ll be going now. Don’t enter the school again until I contact you. Take good care of yourself.”

“Yes, please contact me.”

After saying goodbye to Lee So-Yeong, Cho Seong-Hyeon soon reunited with familiar faces.

“Young Master Jae-Hyeok! Everyone!”

It was Kang Jae-Hyeok, Song Se-Yeong, and the employees.

Most of them looked unharmed.

In particular, Jae-Hyeok’s clothing was still intact—rather than looking as if he’d been hurt and then recovered with a potion, he looked as if he’d never been hurt in the first place.

Cho Seong-Hyeon hugged him tightly.

“Young Master! I’m glad! I’m really glad!”

“...I’m glad you’re okay too.”

Jae-Hyeok hadn’t expected Cho Seong-Hyeon to hug him. He was a bit taken aback by the sudden close proximity, but he didn’t refuse.

It felt good.

Looking back, this was the first time he had been in someone’s arms since the death of his mother.

“By the way, I can’t see the team leaders?”

“Let me explain.”

Department Manager Gu told Cho Seong-Hyeon about everything they had been through.

Cho Seong-Hyeon’s expression darkened. He was sad to hear that the team leaders had died, even if they had betrayed their employees.

“You shouldn’t mourn them. You should be worrying about your position.”

Department Manager Gu warned the silent Cho Seong-Hyeon.

“The death of two team leaders is a huge loss for the company. More than one or two people will want to blame you for this.”

As his Manager title suggested, Cho Seong-Hyeon’s position in the company wasn’t comparable to that of his brothers.

Even Department Manager Gu didn’t particularly respect him. With Cho Seong-Hyeon’s personality, anyone could find something to criticize.

Cho Seong-Hyeon replied, “I’ll just have to deal with it.”

“You seem to be taking this too lightly. Are you still indifferent to the company’s work? Are you saying it doesn’t matter if you can’t rise to a higher position?”

If Department Manager Gu were honest, he didn’t like Cho Seong-Hyeon very much. Cho Seong-Hyeon was a good person but had no ambition. Truthfully, Department Manager Gu thought he was rather pathetic.

After hearing Cho Seong-Hyeon’s response, Department Manager Gu was disappointed yet again. As expected, people don’t change easily.

“No. From now on, I intend to stand shoulder to shoulder with my brothers,” Cho Seong-Hyeon declared with a serious expression.

“I learned a lot from watching Young Master Jae-Hyeok today. No matter the obstacles, I will dare to overcome them.”

I want to prove it. I will prove I’m qualified to lead Jaegyeong.

Cho Seong-Hyeon’s passionate gaze turned to Jae-Hyeok. “Young Master, the next time we meet, I will be more confident than I am now.”

I will be someone who can return the favor to you.

Jae-Hyeok shook his hand after reading the desire in his eyes.

“I’ll be cheering for you.”

***

Cho Seong-Hyeon was fortunately found safe and left Lion’s Castle.

The man digging through the incident information to write a report clicked his tongue.

“Oh, this is interesting.”

Kang Jae-Hyeok.

Coincidentally, the student who’d been involved in the Troll Lord incident was also involved in this case as well.

“The Yaksha’s son.”

Bae Eo-Jin, a member of the third team of the Second Attack Squad and someone known for his sharp senses, was intrigued by Kang Jae-Hyeok.

***

A new week had begun.

The footsteps of students who hadn’t recovered from the short weekend were heavy. On the other hand, the atmosphere at the shooting range had been energetic since morning, and the passing students were spooked awake when they heard the shouts.

“Huh? Why do I hear people shouting at the shooting range?”

“Rather than cheers, they sound like screams... ”

Roh Jun-Yeop must’ve gone crazy again. The students sympathized with the members of the Shooting Club and resumed walking.

......

Meanwhile, inside the shooting range.

“W-wait! I don’t want to! I don’t want to! Let go of me... Aaaack!”

Baek Do-Jin had both arms pinned behind him by Jae-Hyeok and screamed desperately.

Da-Hee also looked tearful.

Knock, knock.

Hae-Rin crouched down and used her scabbard to poke the back of Roh Jun-Yeop, who lay there like a charred fish.

“No response... ” she murmured with a shocked expression.

Baek Do-Jin heard her and trembled. “What training is there in being struck by a thunderbolt? Do you know how much it hurt last time? I’m really going to die!”

“Don’t worry, you won’t die.”

Jae-Hyeok tried to calm his teammates down.

Just in time, there was a commotion at the entrance as members of the Shooting Club arrived. They all held boxes in their arms.

Da-Hee was surprised to see the glass jars clattering inside.

“P-potions? Are they all potions?”

There had to be thousands of them; there were more potions than the average player would use in a lifetime.

“How much was all of this?”

“I prepared it for you guys. Please use it well for the sake of my sincerity.”

Originally, Jae-Hyeok had planned to buy the potions legitimately.

However, Cho Seong-Hyeon refused to let him pay for it.

He even promised to continue to support Jae-Hyeok with potions in the future.

On top of that, I got high-grade potions.

Jae-Hyeok hadn’t known it would be so convenient to be close to someone wealthy.

“From today on, we will have special training every day.”

He wasn’t just speaking to his teammates.

Through the recent incident, Jae-Hyeok had learned to trust in his relationships. He decided to trust the Shooting Club members and include them in the thunder-tribulation training.

He smiled widely.

The image of the boy smiling beside Roh Jun-Yeop, who was badly burned, looked like a devil in the eyes of the students.