Somewhere in Seoul, a grand mansion.
"Yaksha's son enrolled in Lion's Castle? That damned Xue Sua finally made her move. I hurried because I was worried she'd see me in this state."
The old man's movements as he poured tea were rough. His discomfort was plain to see.
"Even with the National Treasure's influence being so strong, I never imagined things would proceed this smoothly. There were plenty of people uncomfortable with Kang Jae-hyeok."
The middle-aged man sitting across from him broke into a cold sweat.
"It's not just plenty—it's the majority. The fact that they couldn't ultimately block Xue Sua proves how serious the situation is."
"Indeed... Ever since the Gates in Gangwon Province turned into that mess, the growth rate of low-rank Players has noticeably slowed. At this rate, we won't see any new talent for Assault Teams tackling B-Rank Gates for a while. I can understand the mindset of those desperate to produce even one more decent Player."
"Hmph. They can't even imagine that borrowing a fox's paw will invite a tiger. Fools."
The middle-aged man wasn't entirely convinced.
Yaksha's son? He's just a 16-year-old boy, isn't he?
Even if he safely graduates from Lion's Castle, he'll be 19.
And they call him a tiger?
Reading the middle-aged man's thoughts, the old man spoke up.
"The truth is, we lost one Sword Ghost to Kang Jae-hyeok."
"A Sword Ghost?"
The middle-aged man couldn't believe his ears.
Sword Ghost.
Among high-rank B-Rank Players, it referred to masters of the sword.
Above all, they were masters of practical swordsmanship, accustomed to killing.
In terms of interpersonal combat, they could be called the strongest among B-Ranks.
"Of course, a Player is still human. Hit a vital spot, and they die like anyone else. That day, the Sword Ghost might have been in especially poor condition."
"True... B-Rank Players are prone to fluctuations. They often fail to perform at their best and get felled by a blind stroke."
"But even accounting for that, we can't underestimate Kang Jae-hyeok's skill. He must have awakened his First Skill and become a Player."
"Even so, he's only Level 1, right? He has no Gate entry records."
The reason Players are strong is that they can raise their stats.
And to raise stats, they need to raid Gates.
By hunting Monsters to level up or clearing quests.
"He just happened to acquire a top-tier skill. Plus, with the Kang Family Iaido at his disposal, it's plausible he could exploit a Sword Ghost's opening."
"A top-tier First Skill... You mean a bloodline skill?"
"As if. It's impossible to grade House Kang's bloodline skills. You're being awfully naive."
"Haha... Anyway, that guy's got some luck."
"That's why bloodlines are so fearsome. What do you think is the difference between the heroes who adapted to the Great Cataclysm 200 years ago, earned their dukedoms through valor, and ordinary folks like us? Simple. We weren't chosen by the God of Fate, but they were blessed and loved."
Crack!
The teacup in the old man's hand shattered into pieces.
"We can't give him any more time. Use your hand right now."
"Yes!"
Once the middle-aged man had left after responding,
The old man who remained alone had eyes burning with intense greed.
'To seize the swordsmanship guarded by the Ducal House for 200 years.'
It meant wresting even fate itself.
Soon, my house will receive the God of Fate's blessing.
***
"The food here's so good."
'How many bowls did he scarf down since morning?'
On the way to the classroom.
Kim Jin-myeong furrowed his brow as he glanced back at Kang Jae-hyeok, who was stroking his slightly bulging belly while following behind.
He couldn't fathom how the bloodline of a house that produced two traitors had managed to enroll in Lion's Castle, especially not as a mere teacher like himself.
'They say anyone with talent can enroll in Lion's Castle, but there's a limit. And of all places, he ends up in the class I'm in charge of... Damn, feels like I stepped in shit.'
House Kang's Ducal House was politically on the edge of a cliff.
There was no benefit to getting tangled up with them, yet here he was, properly entangled.
'If that guy draws attention—for good or ill—won't it just put me in a tough spot?'
He was deeply worried about the impact on his performance reviews...
While Kim Jin-myeong grumbled inwardly, the two arrived in front of the classroom.
Class 1-B.
The class where Jae-hyeok would belong for the next year.
Kim Jin-myeong entered the classroom first and announced to the students.
"You have a new classmate."
The classroom buzzed at the homeroom teacher's sudden declaration.
It had only been ten days since the entrance ceremony, and a transfer student was appearing—reason enough to be intrigued.
This was especially true for Class B.
Every student in the class was an Awakened.
Yet the average age was just 19.
It was a class of prodigies who had awakened their First Skills in their late teens or early twenties.
Compared to Class A, with its average age of 16, it was somewhat(?) lacking.
'Is another monster coming?'
'More competition... Not welcome.'
Amid the students' focused attention,
Kim Jin-myeong nodded toward Jae-hyeok outside the classroom.
"Come in."
"..."
The buzzing classroom fell silent for a moment.
The students were overwhelmed by Jae-hyeok's appearance.
'Whoa, he's insanely handsome.'
'Tall too. A model?'
Admiration poured in.
But the admiration soon turned to unease.
'But... why's his gaze like that?'
'Intimidating. A thug?'
Shouldn't he be in Class A instead of B?
The transfer student, who looked youthful enough for such thoughts, boasted refined features, but his eyes and expression screamed trouble.
'His mouth's turning down more... Why's he mad?'
'It's a triangular mouth. A cat?'
'What the hell's a cat.'
Anyway, that was the normal reaction up to this point...
'Look at that kid's broad shoulders. Great physique.'
'His hands are covered in calluses and scars...'
A few students weren't fooled by Jae-hyeok's face and took note of his trained body.
As expected of the high-caliber Class B, there were some with keen eyes.
But in Jae-hyeok's eyes, they all looked like chicks.
'Not a single one has a solid stance. They're paying tuition waivers for these amateurs without the basics?'
They should've just raised the noble stipends instead...
As irritation twisted Jae-hyeok's face,
"G-Gang Jae-hyeok?"
Someone broke the silence.
Just as Kim Jin-myeong had expected.
A student recognized the transfer student's identity at a glance.
Unexpectedly, it was the heiress of Guardian Guild.
"Kang Jae-hyeok...?"
The other students reacted with uncertainty.
They had heard the name but couldn't quite place who it was.
The media had intensely covered House Kang's scandals eight years ago.
It still got occasional mentions when people felt like dredging it up, but outlets rarely spotlighted the underage youngest son outright.
'But how did she recognize him instantly?'
Kim Jin-myeong tilted his head, his gaze landing on Park Hae-rin.
For some reason, Hae-rin had turned her head toward the window.
"Ah! Kang Jae-hyeok!"
"Duke Kang Dae-guk's youngest?"
Soon, the students began piecing it together one by one.
They whispered about incompetence, treason, terrorism, traitors.
"Heh."
Kim Jin-myeong's frustration cleared up with a pop.
Kang Jae-hyeok.
Son of Duke Kang Dae-guk, who incited national outrage with his humiliating diplomacy, and younger brother to the coup-plotters Kang Dae-seong and Kang Hyeon-ah.
Yes, no way the students would welcome a guy like this.
He'd naturally endure a hellish school life, fail to cope, and leave.
Feeling much lighter, Kim Jin-myeong prodded Jae-hyeok.
"Aren't you going to introduce yourself? You think it's okay to disrupt the other students' class because of you?"
'What bullshit.'
Jae-hyeok sneered, glaring at the name tags on the chests of those who dared call his father incompetent or accuse him of humiliating diplomacy.
He thought he'd grown numb to hostile, contemptuous stares, but it was an illusion.
Far from numb, the rage that had erupted from the incident a few days ago boiled over.
"I'm Kang Jae-hyeok."
Of course, he didn't show his inner thoughts.
The night before, Jae-hyeok had memorized the school rules. He had no intention of racking up penalty points on his first day by causing trouble.
So he behaved as gentlemanly as possible.
"I have inherited a noble bloodline."
"...?"
The students were a bit taken aback by the sudden declaration.
"I can't just stand by while scum insults my father to my face—my character is far too exemplary for that."
"..."
"Lee Jin-seong, Cheon Hye-ji, Du Bae-su—you three, report to me right after class. I'd love to snap your limbs right now, but it's class time, isn't it? Seems like you have some misunderstanding, so I'll talk it out nicely. And any other idiots with prejudices or grudges against His Excellency Duke Kang Dae-guk—come find me separately for some education."
Father.
I'm working hard like this.
Following Butler Hwang's advice, I'm trying to make friends.
So that you, worrying about the son you sent off, can rest easy, Jae-hyeok forced a smile.
It was the extremely awkward smile he'd practiced in front of the mirror that morning.
"Oh, and feel free to badmouth Kang Dae-seong and Kang Hyeon-ah without my permission. I've been bored with no one to curse them with, even if I wanted to all day—so perfect timing."
"..."
His eerie grin and nonsense were unsettling.
As the students grew tense, Kim Jin-myeong shouted in a trembling voice.
"Penalty points: 10 to Kang Jae-hyeok!"
"...?"
How long had it been since he'd had a proper(?) conversation with so many people!
And hanging out with peers? This was his first time ever.
Jae-hyeok, who had gotten carried away without realizing, froze in massive shock.
Kim Jin-myeong glared with bulging eyes.
"You all awakened young, gained skills, became Players—over the next three years, you'll grow stronger than you can imagine. By graduation, at least D-Rank, maybe even C-Rank or higher. What do you think happens if such powerful beings can't control themselves?"
"...Kang Dae-seong? Kang Hyeon-ah?"
Jae-hyeok, still gaping from the penalty shock, responded reflexively.
Kim Jin-myeong, who had been about to launch into a longer lecture based on the answer, was at a loss for words.
He never imagined the boy would name his own siblings here.
And it was an answer he couldn't even deny...
"Y-You know that, and you still threaten your classmates? Even with me, your homeroom teacher, right here? Your rude, low-class behavior is so frivolous and outrageous I want to expel you on the spot, but damn it, I don't have the authority!!"
"..."
The students.
Especially Lee Jin-seong, Cheon Hye-ji, and Du Bae-su, stiffened.
Because Jae-hyeok was glaring at them murderously with axe-like eyes.
Even as the homeroom teacher lectured right beside him, he wasn't pretending to reflect—he was straight-up threatening the students.
"Hey! Hey, you punk! What the hell are you?!"
Kim Jin-myeong's face turned beet red.
He bellowed, but couldn't vent his anger.
And for good reason.
"Grit!"
Jae-hyeok was still grinding his teeth and glaring at the students.
Ignoring Kim Jin-myeong's words to the end.
'Does he have nothing to lose?'
'He's Duke Kang's son—of course he doesn't. Why'd we get stuck with trash like him...'
'They started it by badmouthing someone else's dad.'
"Aren't you starting class? I don't want to waste any more of my precious time."
As the situation refused to calm, Park Hae-rin stepped in.
Her sharp voice rang like a bell in the chaotic classroom.
Thanks to her, Kim Jin-myeong barely regained his senses and jerked his chin at Jae-hyeok, as if telling him to sit in any empty seat.
"Huff huff!"
"...Please just go sit down."
'He's actually huffing like that.'
'Is someone really gonna get murdered today?'
It was the moment when Class 1-B, peaceful until yesterday, went dark before the students' eyes.
"But."
Jae-hyeok suddenly turned serious and looked at Kim Jin-myeong.
"I haven't Awakened."
'You all awakened young, gained skills, became Players...'
Just moments ago.
Kim Jin-myeong had spoken as if the entire class had Awakened as Players.
No matter how excited Jae-hyeok was, he wouldn't miss that.
He'd just let the unpleasant words go in one ear and out the other.
"What nonsense is that? You haven't Awakened, so why are you in Class B?"
"Huh? You're the one who brought me here."
"Y-You? Calling your teacher 'you'?"
"Like you said, I'm uneducated."
"What the..."
Kim Jin-myeong had a headache in every sense.
From the moment he met Jae-hyeok until now, his mind had grown increasingly muddled.
'Yeah, please don't be an Awakener.'
Please just disappear from my sight...
Clutching that desperate wish, he opened the student records and grimaced.
"You're marked as green?"
At the word "green," some students snickered.
Jae-hyeok glanced at their name tags and countered.
"What's that mean?"
"What do you mean?! You measured your mana at enrollment!!"
"Oh... That?"
Jae-hyeok recalled the milky orb the chairman had handed him.
"But?"
"Sigh... Mana Orbs are divided into three main types: beginner, active-duty, and National Treasure trials. The beginner Mana Orbs used for new students at this academy determine if you've awakened your First Skill and activated stats, while roughly evaluating your potential. Green means your talent is enough for D-Rank Player level."
"I'm green?"
Jae-hyeok thought back to the night before.
He had held the orb, but had it turned green?
He'd been too mesmerized by the chairman's gaze to check properly.
He wasn't an Awakener anyway, so he hadn't cared about mana measurement.
"Why am I green?"
"What do you mean why?! It's green because the result was green! Damn it! Yellow, green, blue, red, black! Beginner Mana Orbs evaluate Player potential with five colors, and the closer to black, the higher the chance of becoming a top-tier Player!"
"But I'm not a Player, I told you."
"..."
Kim Jin-myeong felt his soul leaving his body.
His vision blurred, his mind fogging over.
A moment later.
Snapping back to his senses, Kim Jin-myeong yelled right in Jae-hyeok's ear.
"Shut up and go sit down alreadyyyyyy!!"
"Sheesh... Such a hothead."
"Aaargh! Aaaaaaah!!"
"..."
He's doing it on purpose.
The students, having gauged Kang Jae-hyeok's personality, quietly averted their gazes.
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