Duke’s Son: Re

Chapter 73

Noh Junyeob dreamed of being the Bow Saint.

However, he was focused on honing his skills with firearms instead of archery.

In terms of sheer firepower, firearms were more powerful than bows.

When he was at a lower level, using a gun allowed for faster growth.

Particularly, Noh Junyeob had equipped the 〈Phantom Shooter〉 in his third skill slot.

It was an active skill that could only be activated with firearms, summoning multiple ghost shooters.

Tatata-tatata!

Two blurry phantom shooters appeared, aligning themselves on both sides of Noh Junyeob, mirroring his rapid firing.

Effectively, it was as if three Noh Junyeops were unleashing a barrage of bullets.

Even defensive skills that reduced projectile power became meaningless.

“Graaah!!”

The strange men restraining Master Song collapsed one by one, struck by the bullets.

They had no time to process their shock.

“B-boss?”

Twitching!

They turned their attention to the sight of their leader being kicked and sent flying by a young girl with sky-colored hair, sprawling in a dazed position on the ground.

It was so shocking that it completely captured their attention.

Vroooom!!

Steward Hwang did not miss the chance created by Jang Yeonju and Noh Junyeob.

True to his reputation as the duke’s steward, the multitalented Steward Hwang had previously been an F1 driver.

He had received an honor granted to only 20 people globally.

He handled motorcycles far better than Jang Yeonju and Noh Junyeob.

“Get on!”

“… Wow.”

The way Steward Hwang zigzagged through the approaching assailants and executed a perfect drifting stop in front of Master Song left Jang Yeonju and Noh Junyeob impressed.

“Haha! Steward Hwang, you haven’t changed!”

Struggling to get onto the motorcycle, Master Song burst into hearty laughter.

“I must remain well until the young master comes of age.”

“Is Kang Daesung still a child?”

“We’re talking about the youngest master.”

“Did Daeguk have another child?”

“… Are you still in your right mind?”

“You rascal, dare to match me in age, are you?”

“I-I’m sorry.”

Master Song was not only a master craftsman but also had the commanding presence of someone much older.

Even at over sixty, Steward Hwang was considered a late-comer or an early grandchild to him.

No wonder even Yaksha served him with utmost respect.

“Hold on tight!”

Vroom!

Steward Hwang accelerated to full speed.

After crashing into the men attacking Jang Yeonju with magic and other attacks, he turned back to block the path of those chasing after Noh Junyeob, giving him time to take aim and unleash another rapid-fire, securing their escape route.

“Hey, get on!”

Jang Yeonju yelled at Noh Junyeob while recovering the last motorcycle.

Just as he leaped onto the back seat, two hand axes flew toward the back of his head.

Had Jang Yeonju not parried them with her hand blade, his head might have been split open.

“Those crazy bastards really mean to kill someone… Ugh!”

Noh Junyeob ground his teeth in disbelief, only to scream in pain.

As he looked down with trembling eyes, Jang Yeonju’s elbow was buried in his solar plexus.

“Quit fussing and hold on to my waist!”

“Then where am I supposed to hold?”

“Eeek! That’s my hip! Move your hand! Move it!!”

“Okay! Sorry, calm down a bit!”

Her bottle-like body seemed like there were plenty of places to hold on to, yet touching her even once made her freak out, which was awkward for Noh Junyeob.

Grumbling to himself, he steadied his balance using only the strength of his lower body and loaded new bullets.

The commotion left the assailants scrambling, each getting into their vehicles.

Were they really planning a chase against a magic-engineered motorcycle?

“Some country bumpkins they are.”

Noh Junyeob lowered his gun.

The maximum speed of a magic-engineered motorcycle was 700 kilometers per hour.

Though there was a condition that the driver needed to be a high-grade awakener to reach peak speed, with Steward Hwang’s driving skills, the likelihood of ordinary vehicles catching up was zero.

There was no need to waste bullets just to fend off a pursuit.

Master Song, observing Noh Junyeob quietly, furrowed his brow.

“These young ones aren’t from the Kang family, are they?”

“They are not, they seem to be new subordinates acquired by the young master upon entering the Lion’s Castle.”

“So, he’s Kang Daeguk’s youngest son? Does he lack the strength, unlike his father?”

“No, actually, he could even be more formidable than the duke.”

“Then why are his subordinates in such a state?”

Just moments ago.

The men who threw axes at Noh Junyeob were already shot in the shoulders and thighs.

This meant, despite having every chance to kill them, Noh Junyeob had spared them, almost leading to his death.

Granting mercy on the battlefield was one of the most foolish things one could do.

“I suspect it’s due to lacking proper training thus far. Given that the young master entered late by a month compared to others, time might not have been on his side.”

“One would think that a killer instinct spreads faster than it is taught. If Kang Daeguk’s youngest had even half his father’s resemblance, we wouldn’t be having such pointless conversations.”

“…….”

Steward Hwang couldn’t particularly agree.

He had observed Kang Jaehyuk for 16 years.

In terms of personality, he was in no way lacking when compared to Duke Kang Daeguk.

Reflecting on the boy’s smile while eliminating an assassin who infiltrated the mansion, Steward Hwang spoke calmly.

“Let’s just say the eldest avoided sparring with the young master.”

“… Daesung did?”

Master Song fell silent, realizing there was no need to further discuss Kang Jaehyuk’s capabilities.

“Are many talents required to work at the duke’s house?”

As they approached the outskirts of Gurisi, Noh Junyeob spoke to Steward Hwang.

Initially, he had deemed Steward Hwang a burden.

However, he ended up being a lifesaver.

Had Steward Hwang not successfully rescued Master Song in time, the battle might have prolonged significantly, introducing unforeseen variables.

“One cannot deny it. But it’s not something to boast about before the students of the Lion’s Castle.”

“You’re quite humble. At least, I might feel insecure about my driving skills.”

“Once you’re part of the Kang household, talents you never had tend to appear. So, don’t worry prematurely.”

“What?”

Noh Junyeob’s eyes widened upon hearing what seemed hard to comprehend.

Besides him, Jang Yeonju’s expression also hardened.

They sensed a peculiar energy lurking dozens of meters ahead.

Something that wasn’t there moments ago appeared suddenly.

It wasn’t a trick.

Their insight stats were among the top among second-year students, making their senses akin to honed blades.

“Steward Hwang, from now on, keep your eyes forward and drive. No matter what happens, don’t look back.”

While Jang Yeonju issued the warning, a strange voice called out, alarmingly close.

“Master Song, where do you think you’re going?”

Due to the speed of the magic-engineered motorcycle, they rapidly closed the gap of mere dozens of meters, naturally getting close to the mysterious entity.

‘Beastkin!’

Upon seeing the stranger up close, Jang Yeonju and Noh Junyeob were shocked.

Initially, they thought it was a lunatic wearing a white tiger mask.

Yet the moment they saw the pupils within its blue eyes elongate vertically, they realized it was a genuine beastkin.

Beastkin.

Beings possessing intelligence comparable to humans, yet having some animal-like features in their anatomy.

They were a common race found in other worlds with civilization, usually encountered at gates.

However, beastkin active on Earth were alarmingly rare.

Why would an otherworldly being operate on Earth?

The reasons were predictable.

They either had some hidden agenda or were unable to live in their original habitat.

More often than not, they were criminals.

“I warned you, you wouldn’t be able to take a single step from here until you create that item, didn’t I?”

The white tiger beastkin spoke with a chilling tone while extending a claw.

Like a tiger’s paw.

Massive, exuding powerful energy, each of its thick claws was as sharp as a blade.

Thwack!!

The leg Jang Yeonju whipped out collided with the tiger’s paw.

The kick’s power, propelled from the motorcycle’s handlebars acting as a support, was significant.

However, the tiger’s paw was as sturdy as a pillar supporting a building.

Unlike Jang Yeonju, who almost fell off due to the shock’s recoil, the tiger beastkin pressed forward, reaching for Master Song’s collar.

“Get lost!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Fortuitously, Noh Junyeob sprang into action.

Activating his first skill, he maximized the effect of his sniping skill, sending dozens of bullets hurtling into the white tiger beastkin’s massive paw.

Thanks to that—

Crunch!

The slightly deterred tiger paw narrowly skimmed past Master Song’s coat.

“You young ones.”

Seeing the bike carrying Master Song speeding away, the white tiger beastkin began to chase the motorcycle carrying Jang Yeonju and Noh Junyeob.

Since Jang Yeonju, who was steering, had not yet regained her balance completely, their speed had diminished.

“It’s terrifying how fast you run on all fours, huh? Hey! Speed up! Quickly!!”

As the distance closed between them and the relentless white tiger beastkin, unaffected by the rain of bullets, Noh Junyeob shouted desperately.

Jang Yeonju was doing her best.

Despite enduring the pain of a broken wrist and ankle, she painstakingly regained balance and pulled the throttle hard.

Yet, the few seconds lost in the process proved crucial.

When Noh Junyeob’s first skill deactivated and the power of his sniping diminished, the towering paw of the white tiger beastkin was inches away from gripping the rear wheel of the motorcycle.

‘Am I going to die?’

It was a formidable opponent he had never encountered before, even during guild dispatches.

The terrifying aura exuded by the white tiger beastkin at such proximity seized Noh Junyeob’s heart with dread.

Booooom!!

A harpoon hurled from the direction where Steward Hwang’s motorcycle vanished slammed into the white tiger beastkin’s colossal head.

‘Dragon Harpoon…!’

An artifact devastatingly powerful against larger creatures, especially those bearing the name ‘dragon’.

Despite its immense resilience, the white tiger beastkin couldn’t withstand its force, and he tumbled and rolled across the ground.

When it finally stopped and rose to its feet, both motorcycles had disappeared from its sight.

The Dragon Harpoon, which had stained its white fur red, was retracted by the chain it was tied to.

“They kept denying having such an item, even with claws at their throats….”

The Dragon Harpoon was the object the white tiger beastkin had sought to acquire from Master Song at all costs.

Ironically, it was such a relic that caught him off guard at a critical moment.

Roooaaaaar!!

Failing to suppress its rage, the white tiger beastkin roared fiercely.

Behind him, dozens of vehicles arrived.

These were the remnants brought by the group that had sought Master Song.

Unable to meet his gaze and quivering in fear, they awaited orders from the white tiger beastkin.

“Find a way to infiltrate the Lion’s Castle, by any means necessary.”

Having confirmed the existence of the Dragon Harpoon provided some consolation.

As he gazed at the dusk painting the ruined city, the white tiger beastkin’s fierce eyes gradually softened.