The Duke's Son :Re-Chapter 37

Most players monopolized the knowledge and know-how they gained through research and experience. It was a rational choice to survive and thrive in the competitive world of players.

However, those bearing the title of professor in Lion’s Castle were different.

They were players who were at least A-class, and they continued to work actively in the field while conducting research, teaching classes, and writing papers—all to contribute to the development of the entire player community.

They deserved respect.

Jae-Hyeok thought, I need to leave a good first impression.

The professor of Mana Studies, Lee So-Yeong.

Her nickname was Grandmaster.

She was a giant among giants, having created dozens of mana control techniques. Among her creations was even the Yin-Yang Technique.

“Hello.” A twelve-year-old child entered through the open classroom door five minutes after the bell rang.

She was a cute girl with chubby cheeks and big eyes.

Her hip-length black hair was as fine and shiny as silk, giving the impression of a doll that had come to life.

The uniform she wore was excessively long on her small frame, looking like a gown that reached her knees. Anyone who didn’t know better would think she had stolen her mother’s clothing.

She was Lee So-Yeong.

No one knew her actual age.

There were rumors that she’d suffered the side effects of some new mana control technique while experimenting with it, causing her to look young.

Are they snacks for us to share?

The students were feeling dissatisfied with the professor’s tardiness, but they were relieved to see the bakery shopping bags in the hands of the teaching assistants following her.

“Most players reach a point where they hit a wall and give up on their growth. Exactly when that wall appears will vary according to each individual's level of talent and wealth. And here, talent means the Initial Skill, while wealth means the confidence and funds to buy a good skill book.”

Lee So-Yeong stood on the platform and started class without saying any greetings.

“The harder you work to awaken an excellent Initial Skill, the higher your capability to perform well in higher-rated gates. The richer you are, the better you can fill the remaining two Skill slots with Skills that complement the Initial Skill. The more decisively you abandon those great Skills and swap them out based on the situation, the higher you can climb.”

Lee So-Yeong’s ruby eyes scanned the students’ faces.

“The average player experiences their first crisis at level 19.”

Level 19 players had to hunt level 20- or higher monsters to gain meaningful experience. In other words, players had to hunt at least D-class monsters.

D-class monsters were faster, stronger, and tougher than the lower-leveled E-class monsters—and their significant power led many players to give up on leveling any further.

“But the true crisis comes at level 39.”

Level 39 players had to hunt level 40 monsters, which were C-class monsters, in order to keep leveling up.

Whereas D-class monsters differed only in stats compared to E-class monsters, C-class monsters also differed in the number of Skills they had available to them.

The difficulty in battling C-class monsters was on a different level.

And from C-class to B-class, the strength of monsters became even more exaggerated. At B-class, a monster’s intelligence also increased. Many level 59 players went from hunting monsters to being hunted by monsters and dying.

For this reason, only the top 15% of players achieved B-class.

“In fact, many of the teachers at Lion’s Castle are B-class or below.”

The teachers in charge of the first-year students were all B-class players with levels in the early-to-mid 60s.

They had given up on growth and retired from active duty.

“Awakening a good Initial Skill is the realm of hard work, but there is also a bit of luck involved. Wealth in childhood is also purely a matter of luck.”

Lee So-Yeong raised her hand, and her assistant handed her a cream puff from the shopping bag.

She took a bite, and her cheeks swelled.

“There is an unfair side to it. That is why some aspiring players started to instead focus on controlling their mana directly.”

On her tiptoes, Lee So-Yeong struggled to write ‘the power to control mana’ on the blackboard. Then she turned and touched her belly.

“The dantian is the source of our mana: When you raise the Magic stat, mana in the dantian increases. When you activate a Skill, mana is drawn from the dantian to cast it. Scholars who recognized its importance studied the dantian to learn how to control mana without the need of Skills. This is how mana control techniques were born.”

Lee So-Yeong’s long black hair fluttered. It was a phenomenon created by the outward flow of her mana. It felt as if the night sky had opened up behind her.

“Mana control techniques refer to techniques that use mana to create an effect similar to a Skill. The Yin-Yang Technique that you learned in school is a typical example. Just training in the Yin-Yang Technique will help you overcome the walls you will encounter in the future.”

That wasn’t an exaggeration. Jae-Hyeok had also experienced the excellence of the Yin-Yang Technique.

By moving his mana according to the Yin-Yang Technique, mana had flowed from his dantian and circulated around his body, tracing a path like a yin-yang symbol. It strengthened his body slightly and helped with his sense of balance.

It was only a small effect, but he had a hunch that it would become more noticeable as his stats increased.

“By now, you should all understand the importance of mana, right? Try to train steadily so that you can get used to it as much as possible. The assistants will help you get the hang of it, so use your magic power.”

The teaching assistants spread cream puffs in front of Lee So-Yeong once she sat down in a chair. Then, they went around the classroom and started to teach the students one by one.

“Just as the technique emphasizes, the key is for the body to be as hard as a diamond. Establish a mental image that strengthens your body. However, be careful not to overly immerse yourself. That will only increase your mana consumption, leaving you with insufficient mana to use your Skills. You must draw a line according to the situation.”

“Are you unable to concentrate? In this state, you will only be a punching bag in the duel assessment starting next week.”

“This advanced lesson was held because the school judged that your level is too low compared to Class A. The professor has given up her precious time. Shouldn’t you show the proper sincerity?”

“The mana control technique is meaningful only when you can activate it as soon as you want to. No matter how great the mana control technique, it doesn’t have the dramatic effect of a Skill. This means persistence is more important than anything else.”

There were groaning sounds everywhere.

It was very difficult to move mana without Skills. They naturally needed time to get used to it.

“Think about how it feels to use a Skill. Recall how the dantian reacts as mana is drawn from it and what channels the mana is pulled into. Try to reenact it.”

One hour, two hours, and then three hours.

The entire Class B was sweating and concentrating.

They had been bullied by Jae-Hyeok every time they trained, so they were used to ignoring distractions and staying focused.

In the swamp, a moment’s distraction meant getting knocked over and stuck in mud or getting thrown in front of monsters.

They’d developed this ability in order to survive.

Isn’t this class B? Lee So-Yeong thought.

Lee So-Yeong enjoyed the flavor of a cream puff while observing the students with her head tilted.

Instructing new students ahead of the duel assessment was an annual event for the Magic Department. All classes except Class A received this lesson.

The policy was meant to correct the starting gap between the high-level Class A and the other classes. At the very least, it would help motivate the other classes, sparking a competitive spirit.

The level of this Class B is higher in previous years.

Her gaze rested on Jae-Hyeok as she looked at the student records book.

Ah, it is due to him.

Kang Jae-Hyeok.

The son of the Yaksha had awakened his Bloodline Skill at the re-examination site and became a hot topic.

All the students in Class B were aware of this one boy. They stole glances at Jae-Hyeok—who was skillfully manipulating his mana without the assistants’ advice—before redoubling their concentration.

She felt a sense of competition from the students, as if they didn’t want to lose to him.

No, it isn’t that they don’t want to lose. They seem scared.

Were they going to get a homework check from him later, or what? Lee So-Yeong read the strange atmosphere and suddenly felt disgusted.

Could he have inherited his father’s personality, just like Dae-Seong and Hyeon-Ah?

She shuddered at the memories of the days she did raids with the Yaksha before smiling awkwardly.

I-I’m glad. At least he isn’t living his life cowering.

This was that person’s son, so he would probably live a good life. Still, if he was anything like his father, she hoped to avoid him in the future.

She squeezed her eyes shut and turned away from Jae-Hyeok. Then she opened them and glanced at the next student, Park Hae-Rin.

She is a buffer.

Lee So-Yeong had discerning eyes. She could recognize another player’s main Skill through the way they moved their mana.

The mana circuits used were different depending on the player's Skill type.

A support Profession that buffed allies was quite rare.

It received preferential treatment even in Lion’s Castle. She wondered why this child was in Class B when she should’ve been admitted to Class A, no matter how low her level.

Huh, that stubborn guy from the Guardian Guild is her father.

Lee So-Yeong guessed Hae-Rin’s story just by looking at the student record book. Then she left a check mark beside the names of Lee Jin-Seong and Cheon Hye-Ji.

They might major in mana control later.

Of course, they weren’t as good as Kang Jae-Hyeok, but she had no intention of getting involved with the Yaksha’s son.

Ding dong.

The bell announcing the end of class rang just as the teachings of the assistants started to pay off.

Lee So-Yeong dusted off the powdered sugar from her fingers and stood up.

“Classes, the duel assessment, survival games, dungeon raids, raid experiences, team competitions, class competitions, and exchange competitions with foreign schools—You will be quite busy in the next year. I hope you can experience that grueling schedule safely, and I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.”

Performing well would be a reward in itself. Those who did would grow to wield power beyond that of the simple Yin-Yang Technique.

She made the students cheer with her closing remarks and left the classroom.

Jae-Hyeok felt relieved as he bowed to her and sat down.

I’m glad she saw it well.

He’d felt Lee So-Yeong’s gaze during class. It seemed his hard work with the Yin-Yang Technique had earned him some goodwill.

I’ve succeeded in making a good impression. I hope it leads to a good relationship.

“Hiccup!”

“P-Professor!”

Lee So-Yeong was walking down the hallway with her uniform flapping nicely around her shoulders when she suddenly collapsed.

An unexplained chill spread through her body, giving her goosebumps.

***

The rules for the duel assessment were simple.

A student must duel with two students every week, and the school decided on the dueling partner.

Initially, students would be matched with opponents of a similar level, and later they would be matched with those who had a similar winning rate. The students’ grades were divided into high, middle, and low ranks. Rewards or additional training were given depending on the grade.

“I adjusted it so that you and Kang Jae-Hyeok will be matched in the first duel. There is a big difference in level, but he has a Bloodline Skill. It won’t be difficult to match you.”

First Year Class A, Ha Kyeong-Su.

He was unfairly penalized after arguing with Kang Jae-Hyeok and held a grudge. This was why a teacher from the Steel Guild approached him.

Ha Hyeong-Su scoffed. “Hmph, what’s the big deal about the Bloodline Skill of a ruined family?”

“Haha, that’s right. As the second son of a spear master, you will definitely win. Nevertheless, I prepared a gift to make sure that you will win. The only thing I want from you is simple. You just have to knock him unconscious so he is taken to the infirmary.”

“I don’t need this gift. I would’ve beaten him up even without your request.”

Ha Kyeong-Su snorted but still took the gift.

“...Still, I’ll take it just in case.”

Who in this world could refuse artifacts or elixirs?

Ha Kyeong-Su blushed as he rationalized his choice.