The Hero Becomes the Duke’s Eldest Son

Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 17

……

Tiried, the Border Count, spoke to Aden with great excitement.

“If you become my disciple, I will teach you our family’s swordsmanship!”

It was an impromptu offer, but if others had heard it, they would have gasped in surprise.

These were the secrets of the Sedus family, preserved for hundreds of years.

Their value was immeasurable.

“Then you could become the best sword in the Empire, no, in the entire western continent!”

Aden found the situation so absurd that he almost burst out laughing.

A Sword Master, pleading with a rogue to become his disciple, was an incredible sight.

Though it was a ridiculous scenario, it wasn’t entirely strange upon reflection.

Who in the world could use Sword Aura in less than half a year?

Such a prodigious talent would be sought after by any master.

Of course, Aden had no intention of accepting it, not even a mustard seed’s worth.

Aden already possessed the realizations and experiences he had accumulated in his previous life, stored in his soul.

Thanks to his reconstituted body, he now had the fundamental physical strength and bones to match.

Becoming this man’s disciple would offer him nothing.

Instead, being bound by the limited status of a disciple, or rather a servant, would restrict his freedom.

For Aden, who needed to move freely across the continent, this would be a burden.

Aden spoke to Tiried.

“Thank you for offering me such an honorable position. However, I must decline.”

“What?”

“I have no interest in the path of a knight. I only learned the sword as a hobby.”

Perhaps Tiried hadn’t expected such a response?

He stuttered in surprise and shouted.

“You, your talent is a gift from the heavens! With your skills, you could save tens of thousands of soldiers of the Empire from dying to monsters!”

“Well, if it’s a gift from the heavens, then let it flow according to the heavens’ will.”

Tiried furrowed his brows as if he couldn’t understand Aden.

“I am Tiried Sedus! Do you truly not understand the significance of becoming my disciple?”

“I understand it well enough.”

Being the disciple of a Sword Master like the Border Count was a great honor for the family and the warrior, but more importantly, it meant receiving the Sedus family’s secret techniques.

With the power of the Border Count behind him, one could dominate others.

‘Indeed, the backing is tempting.’

But there was nothing else to gain.

Aden had no interest in the Sedus family’s secrets.

Besides, if he became strong as planned, he could gain backing anytime.

If worse came to worst, he could build his own force.

‘Once I reach the level of a Sword Master, they will flock to me on their own.’

In his previous life, Aden had been a Sword Master stuck at the Grand Master’s wall.

So once he regained his mana, he would quickly reclaim his previous level.

“I do not need a master.”

In both his past life and present life, Aden had only one eternal master, the Mercenary King Balkan.

“I will continue to grow stronger and develop my power on my own.”

“Do you truly believe that is possible?”

At Tiried’s question, Aden shrugged.

“I don’t think it’s impossible. And I can say this for sure.”

Aden grinned and spoke.

“Even if we were to duel right now, I am confident I could leave a scratch on you, Border Count.”

A mere novice who had just learned sword energy was declaring he could wound a Sword Master, a superhuman.

It was a reckless and provocative act.

Aden had a reason for such provocative words.

‘From my memory, this man liked fearless people.’

If it was a mercenary, he would hate them several times more, though.

‘He would feel curiosity before anger at my provocation.’

Then he would scare him a little to see his reaction.

He rubbed his chin and laughed.

“Ho, that’s quite an interesting statement.”

As Aden had expected, he wasn’t angry.

However, Tiried wore a chilling smile and glared at Aden.

Then…

*Boom!*

The air around Tiried became heavy and pressed down on Aden.

Then…

*Jang, janggrrr.*

*Clatter, clatter.*

The surrounding ornaments shook faintly, and the dishes on the table quivered.

The energy of a Sword Master’s killing intent, ‘Master Fear.’

It was a technique that imprinted fundamental fear into the opponent, much like a dragon subduing monsters with Dragon Fear.

A being who could subdue and dominate the weak with just their presence.

That was a Sword Master.

Through the pressure, Tiried was saying:

Do you still say such things after feeling this power?

Can a child pluck a lion’s whisker and survive?

He asked in a heavy voice.

“Do you truly intend to take responsibility for your words?”

An ordinary person would have fainted from the suffocating pressure.

But Aden, under that pressure, casually shrugged and answered.

“Of course.”

Aden had fought a dragon and felt its terrifying Dragon Fear with his whole body.

Compared to a dragon, the Master’s Fear of a Sword Master was nothing.

Seeing Aden comfortable even under his killing intent, Tiried’s eyes sparkled.

*Swish.*

He withdrew his Master Fear and laughed loudly.

“Ha ha ha! You’re quite the daring fellow! Fried, how did you raise such a child? Hmm? Fried?”

Tiried, laughing heartily, turned to his friend, Duke Fried…

“Urgh…”

“…I wondered why it was so quiet. He’s fainted.”

Seeing the Duke, who couldn’t withstand the Master Fear, unconscious, Tiried scratched his head in embarrassment.

“Well, he’ll wake up later.”

Tiried then dismissed the Duke and looked back at Aden.

“Alright, if you’re that confident, how about a bet?”

A bet.

The Border Count loved betting.

Thus, this suggestion was also something Aden had expected and hoped for.

Tiried proposed to Aden.

“Let’s have a duel. If you lose, you become my disciple. The condition is, as you said, to injure me.”

“What if I win?”

“Ha ha! That won’t happen, but fine. What do you want?”

This was the question Aden had been waiting for.

“The sword you’re wearing right now. Could you give it to me?”

“This one?”

He widened his eyes and pointed to the sword at his waist.

That sword was one of the heirlooms of the Sedus family, Baalzebul.

One of the seventy-two legendary swords said to exist in the world.

The 72 Swords were known for never chipping, breaking, or rusting in any environment.

A precious weapon said to be worth a fortune.

For reference, the Border Count owned several of such weapons.

“Ha ha ha! You want something big, daring to covet my sword! Fine!”

The Border Count readily accepted Aden’s request.

To stake an heirloom on a mere bet, it was either a bold move or madness.

It meant he was confident of winning the bet.

‘One of the 72 Swords, Baalzebul…’

A Sword Master wouldn’t back out on his word.

At his level, he would insist on keeping his word out of pride.

This was a bet worth taking.

Aden responded to him with a look of slight greed and confidence.

“Alright. I accept the bet.”

“Ha ha ha! Excellent! I like it!”

“Ugh…”

The Border Count’s hearty laughter and the groans of the unconscious Duke overlapped.

* * *

Aden and the Border Count headed straight to the training ground.

The two stood facing each other and took their stances.

*Shing.*

The Border Count drew Baalzebul from its sheath.

Aden, holding a practice sword, furrowed his brows.

“Are you using an ogre-slaying sword to catch a goblin?”

“Ha ha. No matter how good the sword, it’s just a tool. How you use it is more important than what tool you use.”

The man’s sophistry was philosophical.

The rules were as follows:

Both Aden and Tiried would duel using only their swords, without Sword Energy or Aura Blade.

Even an accidental use would result in the user’s defeat.

This was a duel, not a life-and-death battle.

Additionally, the Border Count would not move more than two steps.

Some might think that was too much of a handicap.

But for a Sword Master, such restrictions were necessary to have a duel with a weaker opponent.

The Border Count glanced sideways and smirked.

“By the way, it looks like we have spectators.”

Aden, annoyed, glanced at the side of the training ground.

“Good luck, Aden!”

“Handsome young master, don’t mind us and fight well!”

Somehow, Lowe and Cassie had followed them to watch the duel…

“Master Aden, good luck!”

“I believe Master Aden can do it!”

Although the duel was decided on the spur of the moment, the apprentice knights had gathered in full.

The senior knights rebuked them.

“You rascals! Why are you here instead of working or training?”

“What about you, senior?”

“Ahem! I just left my duty to a colleague for a moment…”

The knights and some servants were gathering in real-time.

“Brother! If you embarrass the family by losing disgracefully, I won’t let it slide!”

Among them was his brother, Carl.

‘What will you do if you don’t let it slide? You cower just from me raising my hand.’

At least the Duke and Duchess didn’t come.

The Duchess was tending to the unconscious Duke, Fried.

‘What’s with all the spectators?’

Aden wanted to ask, but he already knew the answer.

Yes, it was a spectacle.

A duel between the Border Count, a Sword Master, and the troll-slaying young master was a highly anticipated event.

Aden was speechless.

The Border Count chuckled.

“It’s quite a burden, isn’t it?”

“…Not really. Shall we begin?”

“Alright. You start first.”

In a duel with a large skill gap, the weaker usually attacked first.

So it was customary for Aden to strike first…

‘It’s a bit unpleasant.’

Despite his current status as a noble’s young master, he had killed a dragon in the lost future.

*Crack.*

Aden gripped the practice sword tightly.

A Sword Master.

Since returning to the past and entering this rogue’s body, this was the first overwhelming strongman he faced.

‘It’s the level I must reach again.’

No, merely reaching it wasn’t enough.

This time, it had to be the stepping stone.

To the Grand Master level.

Aden’s treacherous comrades were all Sword Masters or superhumans of equivalent level.

To defeat them, he had to aim for a higher level.

‘That would make my revenge easier.’

Aden steeled himself.

His eyes glinted with determination.

Aden drew mana from the mana core in his chest.

*Thump!*

The mana circulated through his mana veins, enhancing his strength and durability.

Aden took his first step.

*Whoosh!*

Aden’s figure shot forward like an arrow.

He quickly closed in on Tiried Sedus’s range.

That meant Tiried Sedus was also within Aden’s range.

*Swish!*

Aden’s practice sword rushed fiercely towards Tiried Sedus’s neck.

*Clang!*

But the practice sword was blocked by Tiried’s Baalzebul.

“Ha. From the first strike, it’s ferocious. Did you really aim for my neck?”

Tiried widened his eyes in astonishment.

Even though it was a duel with a bet, he didn’t expect Aden to aim so fiercely from the start.

The knights under his command usually began with a soft strike as a greeting in their duels.

*Swish!*

Tiried swung his sword.

Aden, who had been prepared, quickly retreated and narrowly avoided it.

Then, as if it was nothing, Aden spoke.

“Of course you would block it. And you did perfectly.”

Despite Aden’s words, Tiried couldn’t simply dismiss it.

Did he aim for a vital spot because he knew it would be blocked?

Indeed, he wasn’t skilled enough to miss the block.

But it wasn’t an act of desperation.

He knew it.

At least in that moment of the strike, that kid truly aimed for his neck.

“Ha ha ha ha…!”

Tiried burst into laughter.

A novice who had just learned sword energy aimed for a Sword Master’s neck?

It was the first time he encountered such a brazen, crazy kid.

He liked it.

“Alright! Aim however you like!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Aden rushed in again.

*Swish! Clang! Clang! Clang!*

Aden’s fierce onslaught continued relentlessly.

Thanks to his reconstituted body, Aden could now display several times more skill than before.

Those watching couldn’t help but swallow their breaths.

‘Young master is moving like that…!’

‘Incredible!’

Aden’s assault on the Border Count was truly gripping.

Some knights, who hadn’t fully accepted their losses against Aden, thought.

‘I was planning to challenge the young master for a rematch…’

Could they defeat him if they fought again?

His skills were astounding.

“Excellent! Very good!”

Despite that, the Border Count’s expression was as relaxed as if he were on a picnic.

He moved within a step’s distance.

Yet, he effortlessly blocked all attacks.

“I’m coming!”

Every time he playfully counterattacked, Aden felt threatened.

It was like hitting a rock with a stick.

Aden’s brow furrowed.

‘As expected of a Sword Master.’

Even with his reconstituted body, Aden still lacked stamina compared to Tiried, and his mana was significantly lacking.

‘At this rate, I won’t even scratch him after hours.’

Meanwhile, the Border Count was inwardly impressed while blocking Aden’s attacks.

‘Impressive! Not just his body, but his swordsmanship is outstanding! His sense and agility are flawless!’

He desired Aden even more.

But he saw a flaw.

The Border Count murmured regretfully.

“Your sword is so wild, like that of rogue mercenaries. It seems you picked up your skills from those vermin. I’ll have to fix all that if you become my disciple.”

Typical of the Border Count, he despised mercenaries.

In his mind, Aden was already his disciple.

Twitch.

Aden’s eye twitched.

‘Damn, this old man…’

Unintentionally, the Border Count’s mercenary-insulting remark touched a nerve.

Aden thought.

Despite half a year of living as a noble’s young master, he was still essentially a mercenary.

His mind was rational, but his heart burned more passionately.

‘Let him taste the sword of a vermin.’

Aden’s eyes changed.

Simultaneously, his swordsmanship also changed.

It wasn’t the Knight King’s Bind or the Bite he had created.

‘Mercenary King Swordsmanship, Knight Breaker.’

*Swish!*

The sword of the Mercenary King, which only his successor could possess, rushed toward the Sword Master.