Ben of the Blue Sky.
He was gathering soldiers at the border where the Kingdom of Praham and the Kingdom of Goyard met, engaging in a tense standoff with Barad.
While staring at Barad standing in the distance, Ben smirked bitterly.
He, too, was a formidable opponent, but Sword King Barad was no less formidable.
However, Ben burst into a hearty laugh.
“Hahaha.”
His loyal retainer asked.
“Your Majesty, what brings you joy?”
“Indeed, something very delightful. Recently, Barad has purged eight nobles.”
The retainer looked puzzled.
How could it be a joyous occasion that he safely eliminated his opposition?
“Luckburg, although an opponent, was someone who shared the same goal but desired a different approach.”
A different approach and goal? The retainer listened intently.
“Barad wanted to focus on training, even as a small nation, to not succumb to powerful countries, while Luckburg preferred to expand the kingdom, even if recklessly. Both had their strategies to protect the Kingdom of Goyard.”
Ben’s eyes narrowed.
“Luckburg was a person who developed the Kingdom of Goyard in his own way for a long time. Yet, he was demoted for seeking the throne through a different method. That’s where the problem begins.”
Tsk, tsk,
Ben clicked his tongue.
“Even if their forces were clashing, they were ready to join hands and fight together in times of war. But now that Luckburg has been demoted and lost power, those who followed him won’t lend their strength to the king.”
Yes, a fracture.
A fracture had begun to appear in the Kingdom of Goyard.
“It won’t be long now.”
Upon hearing this, Ben shook his head.
“That’s uncertain. The two who aim to protect the kingdom might change their minds with even a small link.”
“Does such a link exist?”
The retainer mocked Barad.
Yes, one demoted the other, and the other was demoted.
It would not be an easy task.
***
Boom-!
A groan escaped Hyun-soo’s lips as he fell to the ground.
It was difficult for him to move even a finger.
[You have suffered severe fatigue.]
Fatigue is categorized into several stages, and severe fatigue makes it hard to control one’s body.
‘It makes sense.’
Hyun-soo felt his muscles repeatedly contract and relax while fighting the Giant King.
That’s how tense his body had been.
Once the hunt for the Giant King was over, the tension was abruptly released.
Yet, he continued to smile.
‘I did it…….’
This hunt was a bit special.
It was something he achieved entirely on his own, without even a small contribution from anyone else.
Moreover, he discovered the power of counter (反) in a dramatic situation.
Some might call it luck.
But Hyun-soo was certain.
‘This is my strength.’
Would another blacksmith have been able to unleash such power if they had discovered it?
No.
Striking with two rare weapons at once and with two legendary-grade artifacts at once were completely different feats.
Yes, this was something Hyun-soo achieved entirely by himself.
And for the first time, Hyun-soo received a notification for monopolizing the contribution against a named monster.
[You have hunted the Giant King.]
[You have gained 213,572 experience points.]
[You have leveled up.]
[Level up…]
[You have reached level 240.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You receive an additional 10% experience as a bonus reward.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
Hyun-soo reached level 258 in a single breath.
It was an astonishing achievement.
‘The difference in required experience between the 100s and 200s levels is more than four times.’
That’s how much the required amount of experience changes as the leading digit changes.
In such a scenario, achieving more than 30 levels up was an incredible feat.
[You have gained 87,803 gold.]
87,000 gold.
In Korean Won, that’s about 87 million Won, an enormous amount of money.
[You have obtained the unique mineral, Gwangseok.]
[You have obtained the Giant King’s Blood.]
[You have obtained 12 Blessed Enhancement Stones.]
You’ve obtained the armor of the giant.
The notifications kept coming endlessly.
And then, the notification Hyun-soo had been most eagerly awaiting struck.
[Job Quest: Giant King Hunt Completed]
[You have completed it with remarkable achievement.]
[You have obtained 50% of the subjugation points.]
[You have achieved a total of 85% subjugation points.]
[You have met the conditions to take all members of the Gale Squad, including Khan.]
Hyun-soo’s heart thrilled with excitement.
The five members of the Gale Squad.
They would now solely protect the Guild Bright Future, centered around their base.
[You can receive rewards from Duke Luckburg.]
Hyun-soo had his doubts about this part.
After all, Duke Luckburg was likely considering Hyun-soo an enemy at this point.
And right now, Hyun-soo didn’t have the strength to lift even a finger.
The status abnormality fatigue was a notification message advising the user to rest.
It rings when the user has been connected for a long time or has been mentally tense or exhausted.
Therefore, it was a status abnormality that could not be cured with potions.
Then, Luke approached.
Luke looked at Hyun-soo, who had fallen with his body covered in blood from a single blow.
‘He is my father’s enemy.’
Still, Luke was a man of knightly spirit.
Wasn’t it proof enough of his honesty that he became a knight without resorting to his father’s power?
“I will support you.”
Luke supported Hyun-soo by hooking his arm around his neck.
Hyun-soo, too, was seeing stars and didn’t refuse Luke’s support.
The two began to leave the area.
***
Duke Luckburg.
He was the leading noble of the Kingdom of Goyard, but what he cherished the most wasn’t money or power.
It was his son, Luke, the only one of his kind in the world.
From birth, he was hailed as a prodigy with the sword, upright and polished more than anyone.
Wherever he went, he received high praise as a truly wonderful son.
‘Father, I do not wish to become a knight by borrowing your strength. I will become the kingdom’s commander with my own strength and protect you.’
He was a child who wouldn’t hurt even if he were placed in one’s eye.
If someone asked Duke Luckburg whether he wished for his son’s happiness or for him to become a king, he could answer without a moment’s hesitation.
‘I prefer my son’s happiness over me becoming a king.’
But then, a soldier who had gone hunting with Luke rushed urgently into the domain.
“Is, is Luke alright?”
As Duke Luckburg listened to the soldier’s story, his world collapsed.
He was about to run out barefoot, forgetting to put on his shoes, but then he stopped.
Duke Luckburg was the leading noble of the kingdom.
A noble who stood shoulder to shoulder with the Duke in supporting the kingdom.
At this moment, he resented his own title.
His son was precious.
But Duke Luckburg knew what he had to do now.
“…Summon the troops; the Giant King must be killed before he awakens all his power.”
And then, he also issued this order.
“Prepare those who will recover the bodies.”
His voice was choked.
Duke Luckburg actually knew.
The Giant King had awakened, and Luke had not yet returned.
The soldiers who were with Luke had mostly returned already.
Those who hadn’t returned were dead.
He led the troops deeper inside.
His arm trembled.
He clenched the hem of his clothes, trying to stay calm.
Duke Luckburg, though aiming for Barad’s position, was a fairly excellent noble.
‘My soldiers’ families are as precious as my own child.’
Was he a villain because he coveted the king’s throne?
It’s not necessarily so.
Then.
“My lord… Sir Luke is returning!”
“What!?”
This time, Duke Luckburg couldn’t maintain the dignity of a noble.
He pushed through the troops and rushed forward.
From a distance, he saw his son, Luke, supporting a man.
Duke Luckburg squinted his eyes.
‘Viscount Hyun-soo…?’
His teeth were clenched tightly.
But slowly, they relaxed, and his lips parted slightly.
Unlike Hyun-soo, who was battered, Luke looked completely unharmed.
“Viscount Hyun-soo told us to return. It seems he went to save Sir Luke after sending us away.”
Khan’s report warmed his heart.
He saved his one and only child!
Luke and Duke Luckburg drew closer.
“Father, this man killed the Giant King.”
“…What?”
Khan’s words made him think that they had fled.
But killed?
Duke Luckburg was indeed puzzled.
Why did he save his child?
Doesn’t he hate him?
Then, he saw him, completely covered in blood, struggling even to stand.
And he finally realized.
‘It was his duty as a knight…’
The Giant King was regaining his lost power.
If not killed swiftly, he would have brought great harm to the Arham domain and even to the entire kingdom.
Whether he was an enemy of his or not.
Whether or not he liked his son Luke, he had simply done what needed to be done.
His hatred for him had not completely vanished.
But at this moment, one thing was certain.
[Duke Luckburg vows to bestow upon you the greatest reward.]
At least he would repay what had been done for them.
Even if they continued to be at odds, this much he promised to do.
Having made this vow, Duke Luckburg was now ready to forget his dignity and share his joy with his son in an embrace.
Luke also shouted in joy.
“Father, I’ve returned alive. I’ve come back!”
Soon, the soldiers cheered as well.
“Woaaaah!”
“Sir Luke and Sir Hyun-soo have returned!”
“Sir Hyun-soo killed the Giant King!”
“Wowwww!”
Their cheers of joy echoed through the forest.
The soldiers had also thought they would all die when they heard the Giant King had awakened.
After all, he would have invaded the Arham domain.
That’s why they erupted in joyful cheers.
“My lord, let’s have a festival when we return!”
“It’s a day of great joy!”
“We must have a good drink!”
Duke Luckburg found it hard to hide his joy as well.
He was about to heartily shout, ‘Drink all you want!’
Then.
“Are you that happy?”
A cold voice spread among the cheers, making Duke Luckburg and Luke stop their embrace.
The soldiers’ laughter ceased abruptly.
Hyun-soo, with a cold expression, was there.
Having just woken from the abnormal status of excessive fatigue, Hyun-soo said,
“Shouldn’t there be another order before rejoicing?”
Another order?
Luckburg wore a puzzled expression.
And then, Hyun-soo walked forward.
He took out a sword from within his clothes and forcefully stuck it into the ground.
Thunk
Blood flowing from his arm stained the ground via the sword.
Drip-drip-
Luke recognized that sword.
It was the sword Hyun-soo had picked up next to a dead soldier while supporting him.
“This sword belonged to a young boy.”
A dreadful silence fell.
The faces of the rejoicing soldiers turned to complexity.
Hyun-soo, dispersing them with cold eyes, said,
“Before we rejoice, we must mourn those who died.”
Hearing that, Luke was the first to bow his head in silence.
Following him, all the soldiers and knights bowed their heads in silence.
In the midst of this, Luckburg, slowly bowing his head to mourn, watched Hyun-soo with trembling eyes.
‘How could…’
Duke Luckburg.
He didn’t want to become king.
In a chaotic world,
He simply wanted to protect the kingdom in his own way.
It was just that his way differed from the king’s.
He believed that as long as someone wished only for the kingdom’s wellbeing and peace, it didn’t matter who became king.
Drip-drip-
Watching Hyun-soo, still bleeding, he thought,
‘I’ve come to realize it now.’
Luckburg simply thought to give the greatest reward he could.
But now, his thoughts were changing.
‘Why His Majesty considered him as his successor.’
Someone who could govern the tumultuous Kingdom of Goyard more mercifully than anyone.
Someone who mourns the sorrow of the people before rejoicing in victory.
In front of the mourning Hyun-soo, Luckburg said,
“I will ensure protection.”
***
Hyun-soo wore a puzzled expression.
Duke Luckburg suddenly walked towards him.
“I will ensure protection.”
Protection?
He said with a powerful voice,
“I will protect the path you choose to walk.”
[Duke Luckburg promises to support your path to becoming king more than anyone else.]
Hyun-soo realized.
He had won the heart of the kingdom’s greatest noble, Duke Luckburg.
Cliche Novel 
duke unluckyburger has been upgraded to duke luckburg ggs
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Thanks for the chapter!!!
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