The Hero Becomes the Duke’s Eldest Son

Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 11

…….

There was one creature that came to mind when considering higher forms of goblins.

‘Could it be a Hobgoblin?’

A Hobgoblin.

It was a hybrid born from the crossbreeding of humans and goblins.

Unlike typical goblins, Hobgoblins usually had physical abilities superior to adult human males. In terms of pure strength, they were four times stronger than humans, comparable to orcs.

If such a creature was leading the group, it made sense.

Aden examined the surroundings closely and soon found the expected trace.

‘Hobgoblin footprints.’

They were about twice the size of other goblin footprints, so they were easy to spot.

“Sir Spelle, look at this.”

I showed the Hobgoblin footprints to Sir Spelle, the deputy commander leading the second search party.

“This is, could it be…?”

Sir Spelle’s expression hardened upon seeing the footprints.

As a veteran knight who had participated in several hunts on the Demon Mountain, he recognized what these footprints meant.

“…It seems the situation is worse than we thought.”

The appearance of a Hobgoblin among a goblin horde was known as a sign of bad luck.

It significantly raised the difficulty of the hunt and was evidence that someone had been captured by the goblins.

In other words, it meant that there were casualties among the villagers.

“It’s impressive that you found this, young master. This is a great help.”

Admiration was evident in Sir Spelle’s eyes.

It was easy for Aden to distinguish and find it, but finding the trace of a Hobgoblin among such a mess of footprints was like finding a needle in a haystack for others.

In fact, when Sir Spelle first heard he was participating in the search, he hoped Aden wouldn’t be a hindrance.

However, finding evidence confirming the existence of a Hobgoblin was a significant achievement.

‘I knew the young master had reached the stage of Sword Resonance, but he also has keen observation skills.’

But the admiration was soon replaced by a sense of unease.

“No wonder… there was a reason, the tracks were erased to prevent pursuit.”

They had tried using search dogs, but the blood had scattered everywhere and made the dogs lose their way.

Because of this, the second search party had to split into several groups and wander through the forest.

However, if the goblins, led by their chief, were lying in ambush, they could be in danger themselves.

‘Do we have no choice but to take the risk and move?’

Sir Spelle was firm in his decision to keep the young master safe here with the knights and move only with his men.

“Sir Spelle.”

“Yes?”

“Bring me one search dog.”

“But young master, we’ve already tried with the search dogs…”

“Hey, stop talking back and hurry up.”

When Aden ordered with a sharp glare, he had no choice but to comply.

Thinking to himself that his personality was still as harsh as ever, he brought over a search dog.

-Woof!

The search dog panted, wagging its tail and looking up at Aden quietly.

He took out a glass bottle filled with a pinkish liquid from a small waist pouch.

-Yelp?

Aden forcibly opened the dog’s mouth and poured the pink potion down its throat in one go.

-Gulp!

The search dog, forced to drink something, coughed in surprise.

Seeing the sudden action, Sir Spelle asked in a bewildered voice.

“Young master, what is that potion…?”

“It’s a Scent Awakening Potion.”

He replied simply.

It was one of the potions Cassie had procured for him.

A potion that temporarily heightened the sense of smell.

Its effect was to enhance the sense of smell by more than a hundred times.

“However, when the effect wears off, it will cause a bit of a headache. When we return to the ducal estate, make sure this dog gets some meat.”

“I didn’t know such a potion existed…”

After instructing Sir Spelle, Aden let the dog sniff the blood.

The dog sniffed several times, memorizing the scent.

The search dog, with its nose to the ground, started moving around.

How much time had passed?

Woof! Woof woof!

The dog started barking in one direction.

It had picked up the trail.

* * *

The entire second search party, including Aden, moved.

Deputy Commander Sir Spelle instructed everyone to be wary of the Hobgoblin.

“I will protect Lord Aden with all my might.”

“You don’t have to go that far, Lowe.”

He waved off Lowe’s solemn declaration.

Somehow, his eyes seemed to grow more intense every time he looked at Aden, making him uncomfortable due to the gap between his current self and his future self.

-Bark!

The search dog, leading the way, moved forward with determination.

Thanks to the Scent Awakening Potion, the dog’s enhanced sense of smell quickened its pace.

They followed a path deep into the mountains for a long time.

-Growl, bark!

The search dog stopped and barked briefly.

The place where the second search party arrived was a small clearing formed in the mountains next to a cliff.

And they saw it.

Goblins.

There were numerous goblins gathered there.

Easily over a hundred of them.

And in the center of the clearing…

“Lord Carl!”

“Everyone is there!”

“They’re still alive!”

Carl and several unconscious territorial soldiers were tied to wooden stakes in the center of the clearing.

Around the stakes, dry twigs were piled up, as if they were planning to burn them alive.

And then they saw it.

Lowe muttered blankly.

“Is that a Hobgoblin?”

Among the goblins stood a large figure.

It had the height of a human, dark skin, and a muscular build.

It looked more like an orc resembling a goblin than a goblin itself.

That guy seemed to be the leader of the group.

The second search party was frozen in shock at the sight.

Soon, Sir Spelle, regaining his composure, spoke firmly to everyone.

“From now on, we will engage in combat with the goblins to rescue Lord Carl and the soldiers. Remember, this is a combat operation, not an extermination.”

Combat operation, not extermination.

It meant not to see these goblins as mere monsters, but as a combat unit and stay vigilant.

Everyone’s faces tensed up at those words.

Sir Spelle spoke to Aden.

“Young master, I apologize, but during our fight, could you go around the other side and untie Lord Carl and the soldiers?”

Having come this deep into the Demon Mountain, they couldn’t send the young master back to the estate.

Nor could they spare knights to guard him, so they intended to entrust him with the relatively safer task of rescuing the survivors.

Aden nodded at his request.

“I’ll do that.”

The dozens of people here should be enough to handle the goblins.

There was no need for me to bother getting involved personally.

At that moment, Lowe spoke to Sir Spelle.

“I wish to accompany the young master. I request your permission, Deputy Commander.”

“Hmm, permission granted. Protect the young master.”

Aden and Lowe moved around to the opposite side.

Sir Spelle confirmed their movement and…

Clang!

He drew his sword and shouted.

In a voice loud enough for all the goblins to hear.

“Second search party! Charge!”

“Waaaaah!”

“Let’s rescue Lord Carl!”

The entire search party charged towards the goblins.

-Grr?

-Screech!

The goblins, belatedly realizing the presence of the knights, were flustered, but…

-Grrraaagh!

Upon hearing the fierce roar of the Hobgoblin, they came to their senses and raised their crude weapons.

-Kyaaah!

-Kraah!

They expressed their hostility and charged at the knights.

The battle had begun.

* * *

The territorial soldiers, who were tied up and captured by the goblins, widened their eyes at the appearance of the knights.

“Kn-knights are here!”

“They’ve come! They’ve come to save us!”

While the knights and goblins were fighting, Aden, along with Lowe, moved stealthily to the captured ones.

“Is everyone alright?”

“L-Lord Aden Remes?”

A territorial soldier who recognized him was astonished.

His eyes were asking why the infamous scion of the ducal family was in such a dangerous place.

Aden ignored those eyes.

Shh!

He took out a small dagger and cut the ropes one by one.

Lowe also cut the ropes of others beside Aden.

Aden looked at the unconscious Carl and asked the soldier.

“What happened?”

“He was knocked out by a Hobgoblin’s punch to the back of his head.”

“Seriously.”

He checked Carl’s body, but he didn’t seem to be in any danger of dying.

Aden grabbed Carl by the nape and sent a surge of mana into his body to stimulate him.

“Ugh…”

Carl’s eyelids fluttered and soon he opened his eyes.

“Ugh… damn goblins…”

“Are you awake?”

“Huh, brother…? How are you here…?”

“What do you think, I came to rescue you.”

Carl looked puzzled, as if he couldn’t believe Aden was here.

“Why…”

“Why? You’re about to be goblin food, you dimwit. Of course, I’m here to save you.”

At Aden’s words, Carl looked even more bewildered.

Clicking his tongue lightly, Aden helped him to his feet.

“Ugh.”

As he stood up, Carl grimaced and grabbed his right arm.

“Are you injured?”

“It seems I have a slight fracture, brother.”

Carl’s face contorted in pain.

What he thought would be a simple investigation had turned into such a mess.

The realization left Carl feeling devastated.

“Aden, all the ropes are cut.”

Lowe reported to me.

All nine territorial soldiers had been freed.

Considering the original investigation team was nineteen, including Carl, it seemed about half of them had died.

Then, one soldier suddenly shouted as if he remembered something.

“Oh, not yet! There are still villagers inside that cave!”

“A cave?”

Near the cliff where they were tied up, there was a large cave.

He said there were more survivors inside.

It was then.

From the direction of the battle between the knights and goblins came alarming cries.

-Krraaargh!

-Turrrraaah!

Three more Hobgoblins appeared and attacked the knights.

And that wasn’t all.

-Krroooar!

-Toorrraaah!

Four more Hobgoblins appeared from the other side, roaring fiercely.

A total of eight Hobgoblins.

The knights, who were killing goblins, were caught off guard.

Sir Spelle shouted in astonishment.

“There were more Hobgoblins!”

Aden couldn’t help but be confused as well.

‘Multiple higher-level goblins in one group?’

Normally, that wasn’t possible.

Hobgoblins were a type of chieftain.

In a group, if multiple Hobgoblins were born, the stronger one would typically kill the others or they would leave to become the chieftain of another group.

That moment.

Thud, thud.

Heavy footsteps echoed from the dark cave.

Hearing that sound, he realized.

‘I see.’

Multiple higher-level creatures in one group.

There was only one explanation for this.

‘Those Hobgoblins are not the top of this group.’

Thud-! Thud-!

The footsteps grew louder and closer.

Aden’s eyes grew cold and calculating.

‘Those Hobgoblins are merely mid-level subordinates.’

There was a higher-ranking creature ruling them all.

The true chieftain controlling them.

That creature revealed itself from the cave.

With a height over three meters, similar to an ogre.

With tough, grayish leather-like skin.

A long, thin frame with lean but firm muscles covering its body.

The creature held the body of a person with only one arm left and was chewing on it.

Crunch, crunch, splat.

With the disgusting sound of flesh being chewed, pieces of meat and blood dripped down.

Watching the monster chew through the corpse’s bones, he thought.

‘I never expected to see this here.’

Its mouth opened, revealing large, bloody fangs.

-Rrrroooaar, kuurrr…

A chilling, grating voice like metal scraping.

A hideous creature that looked like it came from hell.

‘A troll is here.’

Among large humanoid monsters, it was known as the strongest and worst monster on earth.

A creature that could single-handedly destroy several rural villages stood before him.