"...?"
The man doubted his ears.
Born as a child of House Kang, wielding iaido just like the Yaksha—how could this kid spout such nonsense?
Even as he lay dying, the man was drawn not by fear, but by bewilderment.
It was a vicious curse.
With his forehead pierced by the flying sword, his body cooling into a corpse, he couldn't close his eyes until the end.
"Tch."
Jae-hyeok easily shook off the surging emotions.
To him, killing was merely a means for survival and purpose.
He had long realized that the moment to take another's life would inevitably come, and he had steeled himself for it.
"I'll call an ambulance, so stay still."
"...."
Jae-hyeok first checked Hwang Hong-gi's condition.
The wound had regenerated quite a bit, but the blood loss was still a concern.
"Yeah, just stay quiet like that... Huh?"
Staying still was good, but wasn't it too quiet?
Jae-hyeok's heart sank as he hesitated to check Hwang Hong-gi's pulse.
He was someone who had already lost too much.
He had resolved to reclaim what was taken, but he hadn't fully prepared himself for new losses.
"No, no way? Butler Hwang...? Butler Hwang...!"
His vision blurred.
His head spun.
The horrific emotion he never wanted to feel again gripped his heart.
"Ugh, uwaaa...."
It was my fault.
I failed to notice the enemy's ambush in time, putting Butler Hwang through hell.
No, I should have chased Butler Hwang out of the house long ago.
I shouldn't have kept him by my side.
It's all my responsibility...
Jae-hyeok's eyes darkened as he stifled his sobs.
Ten years ago, why had his mother headed to that death trap?
Had the powers that rendered his father's sacrifice worthless exerted their influence back then too?
Just like the intruders who targeted him now and took Butler Hwang's life...
"In the end… in the end, you bastards have to take everything to feel satisfied...? You fucking pieces of shit...! You think I'll just take it lying down?"
Grit!
Jae-hyeok clenched his teeth so hard it felt like they might shatter, his gaze shifting to the mail in Butler Hwang's hand.
An invitation from Lion's Castle.
He had refused it four times.
But now, his remaining options...
"Young Lord… when's the ambulance coming? This old man is gonna die...."
"...!"
Jae-hyeok hurriedly wiped his eyes and looked up. Butler Hwang was gazing at him, his pale face bearing a warm smile.
"You really have no sense of economy... Even after the household's fallen apart, using your last precious potion on me—what am I supposed to do...?"
"It's fine. That potion's nothing. I'll make plenty of money and feed you potions until the day you die."
Had he ever seen the Young Lord smile so brightly?
Butler Hwang's eyes reddened with emotion.
***
[You have entered [Lion's Castle].]
Duke Kang Dae-guk of the Yaksha had countless achievements.
The most representative one was safeguarding this place.
Lion's Castle.
A field-type Gate boasting an area spanning entire provinces.
Highlands, hills, mountains, deserts, jungles, swamps, great rivers, glaciers, volcanoes—environments that wouldn't normally coexist were diverse within the Gate.
It also respawned B-Rank and lower monsters 'regularly' in 'specific zones.'
Meaning it could be utilized to taste.
In short, it was the optimal Gate for player training.
Countless nations had tried to seize it, even offering billions.
"Hello. We've finally met."
The Republic of Korea had established a player training institution in Lion's Castle.
It accepted anyone with 'talent' as a student, regardless of age or status.
From Lion's Castle's perspective, coveting Jae-hyeok—the son of the Yaksha, with guaranteed talent from the Ducal House—was entirely natural.
"Well… you've been pestering me for a while."
A place his father had protected for his homeland.
But the homeland had abandoned his father...
Jae-hyeok scanned his surroundings with mixed feelings and replied curtly.
The chairman of Lion's Castle.
Even facing Seol Su-ah—one of the only three National Treasures left in Korea—he acted without manners.
It was a boldness beyond mere courage.
But Seol Su-ah just smiled gently.
"I can be a bit persistent."
She couldn't bring herself to point out his prickly attitude.
Not only because she wasn't some nagging elder, but because she knew full well the pain the boy had endured.
Considering the assault just days ago… his anger and hatred must have reached an uncontrollable level.
"What the hell are the government and Association thinking, trying to enroll me here? I'm the younger brother of the arch-traitors Kang Dae-seong and Kang Hyeon-ah. Did all the high-and-mighties get shot in the head or something?"
"You're Duke Kang Dae-guk's son first and foremost, before being those children's brother. The government and Association have high expectations for your talent. Korea doesn't have guilt-by-association laws anyway."
"They must've gotten machine-gunned in the head. Those two ended up like that because they were Father's kids—aren't you worried I'll build power later and get revenge on the nation?"
"If a player strong enough to rebel against the nation is born, we'd welcome it with open arms."
'You want me to try it if I can?'
As Jae-hyeok's lips twisted, interpreting it as provocation.
"Jae-hyeok."
Seol Su-ah called the boy's name in a gentle voice.
Her smile had faded.
She was dropping the mask, showing her true feelings.
"School life will be tough. Kids raised on media slandering the Yaksha and House Kang will harbor prejudices against you and won't hesitate to be hostile. The faculty, affiliated with the Association, will constantly watch and suspect you."
"...."
"Steel your heart and endure. Put in a little more effort than others. Build strength so no one dares see you as prey."
The temperature in the chairman's office plummeted.
It was the aftermath of Seol Su-ah's sigh, hidden from Jae-hyeok.
"At least you understand this is the safest place for you, right?"
"…Yes."
"I'll protect you from external threats as much as possible, but there are limits. Like any student, you'll have to handle schoolyard grudges and schemes yourself. Even a chairman has her circumstances."
"Reliable or not… it's kinda ambiguous?"
Though he still spoke gruffly.
Jae-hyeok eased his wariness a bit.
He had noticed Seol Su-ah was going to great lengths.
Even if the government and Association expected his talent, it was likely the view of a minority.
Most would disapprove of Jae-hyeok, overflowing with risk factors.
'And yet she's worked to get me enrolled....'
Staring at Seol Su-ah, Jae-hyeok asked point-blank.
"What… what does His Grace want from me?"
"For you to live the life you want."
"...!"
For a moment.
Jae-hyeok glimpsed the depths of her blue eyes.
National Treasure, White Night.
He truly felt the young woman before him was his father's equal.
"Here, take this."
Smiling gently, Seol Su-ah took out a small orb and handed it over.
"What's this?"
"A Mana Orb. Hold it in your right hand."
"Hmm...."
Jae-hyeok grasped the orb.
But the milky orb showed no change.
"...!"
A National Treasure is a pillar of the nation.
They maintain composure at all times, in any situation. It was exceedingly rare for them to reveal emotions through expressions.
Yet at this moment, Seol Su-ah's eyes widened, her body trembling faintly.
It was unmistakable shock.
"Your Grace?"
As Jae-hyeok tilted his head, Seol Su-ah quickly composed herself.
"Yes, give it here. Any other questions?"
"This is a Gate, right? Doesn't the environment reset every quest clear? Isn't there too many buildings? Weren't they all built with taxes?"
"Most of the educational facilities, excluding amenities, existed here from the start. This building wasn't newly built—it was just renovated."
"No wonder the style seemed unique and antique... Was Lion's Castle originally a school?"
"Probably. That's why no quests occur here. It guarantees stability, perfect for a player training institution."
"A Gate with no quests?"
"'We haven't discovered any' is more accurate. But it's been over 200 years with no signs of a Break, so we treat it as nonexistent."
'The first clear reward might still be out there?'
Jae-hyeok pondered seriously.
"Jae-hyeok? You look tired—head back and rest. You know where the dorms are?"
"Yes."
After Jae-hyeok left.
Seol Su-ah pulled out a document.
A report detailing the intruder who dared assault the Ducal House.
'I thought a 16-year-old boy defeating the Sword Ghost meant he'd already awakened [Skills] and become a player....'
She had been completely mistaken.
Jae-hyeok was a regular person.
He hadn't awakened as a player yet.
Her National Treasure senses had detected it at a glance, and the Mana Orb confirmed it.
'A regular person overwhelming the Sword Ghost with pure swordsmanship....'
Like father, like son—but this was too extreme, wasn't it?
Unable to hold back a chuckle, Seol Su-ah marked Jae-hyeok as 'Awakened' in the student records.
If it came out he was unawakened, the fallout would be too much to handle.
Those already fearing the Yaksha's bloodline would stop at nothing to eliminate him.
'The Awakened classes might be overwhelming... But please hang in there. You have to endure.'
Resting her chin, Seol Su-ah closed her eyes, reminiscing.
National Treasure, Yaksha.
The precarious guardian deity of Korea.
To Seol Su-ah, he had been her one hope.
She had naturally respected him and received much help.
"I can finally repay His Grace's kindness."