The Hero Becomes the Duke’s Eldest Son

Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 20

Seeing is believing.

Aden stood on the wall with the Viscount and Carl, looking down.

Below, Tiried Sedus was surrounded by monsters on all sides.

“Haha, these creatures are underestimating me.”

He laughed coldly.

“Insignificant beings.”

Kuuuuung-!

The air grew heavy in an instant.

Master Fear spread with his voice, and the monsters felt an overwhelming pressure and fear.

-Krr, Krrk?

-Kraaaak?

The mutant wolf, which seemed ready to pounce with its jaws open, tucked its tail and whimpered.

The goblins and gnolls trembled and retreated in fear.

Some even foamed at the mouth and fainted.

“This is bothersome. Should I clean them up at once?”

He raised the sword in his hand high toward the sky.

Hwaaaa-!

Then, a blue light shot up, materializing into a blade nearly 4 meters long.

It was the power only a superhuman could possess, the proof of a Sword Master.

It was an Aura Blade.

Tiried Sedus swung the massive Aura Blade.

Kwaaaaaang-!

It swept through the terrified and immobilized monsters like a storm.

-Kraaaak!

-Kraaaak!

-Keeeek!

The goblins, gnolls, and other monsters were torn to shreds in the storm of that blade.

Blood and flesh rained down.

In an instant, a clearing formed around Tiried.

“Hahaha! This is a good warm-up!”

Tiried Sedus laughed heartily as he swung his sword, slaughtering the monsters.

Every time he moved, the monsters were torn apart.

Wherever his feet landed was a storm, and those who stood before him were mere leaves torn apart by the storm.

Carl and the Viscount were left speechless by the sight.

‘Is that what a Sword Master is…?’

Earlier, Tiried Sedus had said he would ‘clean up’ for a moment.

He was right.

This was no longer a battle.

It was just cleaning up.

He was sweeping away the monsters as if with a broom.

My goodness, is this the power that a human can possess?

Aden shrugged as he watched them lose themselves in Tiried’s massacre.

“I told you. No need to rescue anyone.”

Aden looked at Tiried with meaningful eyes.

The man was cheerfully ‘cleaning’ up the monsters.

Having already cut through countless monsters in the north, the man was running wild like a fish in water.

A Sword Master might be called a superhuman, but in essence, they were monsters.

And in his previous life, Aden was one of the strongest among such monsters.

‘And in this life, I must become an even greater monster.’

Aden’s targets for revenge were even more formidable than Tiried Sedus.

Aden clenched his fist.

As he watched Tiried’s prowess, Aden resolved once more.

This life, without fail.

To become a monster.

A monster capable of crushing other monsters.

In just three minutes after drawing his sword, Tiried Sedus had ‘cleaned up’ the monster wave all by himself.

Only a mountain of corpses and a pool of blood remained, reeking of stench.

* * *

Inside the fortress, Aden and the others gathered around a table to discuss.

The Border Count, Carl, and Viscount Timon, along with the commanders of Atilla Fortress, were present.

“This monster wave is suspicious.”

Aden spoke to everyone.

A few of them nodded in agreement.

Viscount Timon spoke.

“Upon investigation, these were creatures that originally never came down from the mountains due to their fear of orcs.”

Additionally, goblins, gnolls, mutant wolves, and other various monsters usually never moved together.

The fact that such creatures mixed and caused a wave was suspicious.

They had been driven in desperately.

As if they were running away from something.

The Piern Mountains, the monsters’ territory.

Something was happening there.

It needed to be investigated.

“Then I will go and…”

“Lord Tiried, please stay here and guard the fortress. Another wave could come.”

There was no guarantee that the monster wave would end with just one attack.

Why else would it be called a wave?

Monster waves come repeatedly, in small numbers.

Even if they requested reinforcements from the Duchy, it would take more than half a day for them to arrive.

If a monster wave hit while the Border Count was absent, the fortress would have no hope.

“Ugh, that can’t be helped.”

As expected of someone who had repelled monsters several times in the northeast, he understood Aden’s reasoning well.

Aden stood up.

“I will go and take a look.”

The lord was startled by Aden’s words.

“Y-Young Master! It’s dangerous! It’s better to form a detachment from the fortress troops…”

“Is there anyone among them at the level of Sword Aura?”

“…”

Viscount Timon was silenced.

The strongest among the fortress troops were three knights at the level of Sword Resonance.

It was unknown what was happening in the Piern Mountains.

Someone with the ability to investigate and return safely had to go.

‘And to gather life force for my sword as well.’

Aden looked at them with resolute eyes.

“I will go and investigate the Piern Mountains.”

* * *

Aden’s resolve did not waver despite the lord’s attempts to dissuade him, and ultimately, it was decided that Aden would investigate the Piern Mountains.

Meanwhile, the people in the fortress, including the lord, began to see Aden differently.

‘The Young Master himself is stepping forward to help us.’

‘How could such a person be labeled as a scoundrel…’

In reality, he was going to gather life force for his sword, but they would never know that truth.

It was just that the condition was set to take three veteran knights with him.

Aden readily agreed.

However, there was one unexpected element.

“I will go with you.”

Annoyingly, Carl insisted on tagging along like a leech.

When Aden raised his fist, Carl flinched but insisted on coming along.

In the end, they had to move together.

As Aden climbed the mountain path with the knights, he asked Carl.

“Hey, Carl. Why did you say you wanted to come along?”

“Atilla Fortress is responsible for the eastern defense of our territory. As the future successor of the Duchy, I must set an example.”

Though his words sounded plausible, Carl coldly emphasized being the ‘future successor of the Duchy.’

Carl thought to himself.

‘Hmph, so what if you’ve reached the level of Sword Aura? Who knows what trouble you’ll cause.’

Carl was determined to watch Aden closely and find any reason to tarnish his brother’s reputation.

Aden checked the map.

Connecting the path of the monsters in a straight line led to an area with a huge gorge.

‘The location of the orc village.’

Aden led the investigation team toward that place.

The journey was not easy.

-Kiaaaak!

-Kyaooook!

Numerous monsters, full of poison, charged at them.

The knights and Carl slaughtered them.

Shuaaak!

The investigation team members were all skilled knights at the level of Sword Resonance, and Carl was comparable in skill, so they managed to handle it smoothly.

Yet, none of them could match Aden in swiftness and efficiency.

Because of the monsters that constantly attacked, the knights were drenched in sweat.

Despite this, Aden, who killed the most monsters, didn’t sweat a single drop.

He killed with minimal movement by striking vital points.

Aden’s movements were so skilled that it seemed as if the monsters willingly impaled themselves on his sword.

‘What incredible skill. Was it really true that he killed a troll alone?’

‘Forget being beaten by a dog. He just cut down a wolf the size of a tiger!’

The knights were impressed by Aden’s skills.

Baalzebul eagerly devoured the monsters’ life force.

Aden frowned.

‘But it’s not filling up as much as I thought.’

He had already cut down more than twenty monsters while passing through the mountain path.

Even so, it was only 8.5%. He didn’t know when it would be fully charged.

Aden walked through the mountain path, cutting down monsters with ease.

In contrast, the others grew more exhausted and tense, constantly battling the monsters that attacked them over several hours.

-Kyaaaak!

Another goblin charged at Carl.

“Damn it!”

Carl, highly agitated, swore as he cut down the goblin.

-Kyaaak!

At that moment, a goblin jumped out from the bushes behind Carl.

‘Damn!’

Carl noticed too late and panicked.

The goblin’s crude dagger, smeared with poison, was about to stab Carl’s back.

Shuaaak!

The goblin’s body was split in half from the groin to the head.

Aden had noticed the hidden goblin and killed it.

“Stay sharp, Carl.”

Aden said coldly, staring at Carl before moving on through the bushes.

Carl, who had been momentarily dazed, quickly regained his senses, his face flushing with shame and anger.

“Damn it…”

He had come to catch his brother’s mistakes and prevent them, but instead, he had received help.

Carl looked at Aden’s back.

He was vigilant, yet not overly tense, moving with ease but without letting his guard down.

Watching that steadfast figure, Carl felt a strange sensation in his chest.

“…I don’t like it.”

Carl, gritting his teeth, followed Aden with renewed determination.

* * *

After nearly three hours of travers

ing the mountain path, Aden and the investigation team arrived at the gorge where the orc village was located.

They were speechless at the sight before them.

A knight unconsciously murmured.

“W-What is that…?”

Their faces turned pale.

The gorge was massive.

The cause of the wave was gathered there.

Thump, thump, thump.

The sound of drums echoed.

Hundreds of… orcs moved in rows and columns to the rhythm.

And at the forefront of the horde were massive creatures devouring monster corpses.

Some among them were beating drums to control the orcs’ movements.

There were over fifty of them.

‘Trolls.’

The creatures that should have been in the Wasteland of Death had crossed into the Piern Mountains.

Orcs and trolls, who usually fought over territory, had joined forces.

They formed an army.

And the lord of that army sat on a throne made of bones, positioned higher than the trolls.

It was evident at a glance that this being was the ruler of the horde.

This troll looked different from the others.

Its body was half again as large as a regular troll, and its skin was much darker.

‘High Troll.’

It was a superior type of troll, an elite leader.

A monster of immortality, even if its head was severed, it would reattach and rise again.

Aden’s expression hardened.

The composure on his face vanished.

It wasn’t just any High Troll.

‘Why is that thing here?’

Even a regular High Troll was problematic, but this one was different.

It shouldn’t be in a place like this.

Its entire body was covered in bizarre tattoos, and it wore a necklace made of skulls around its neck.

In its grasp was a staff the size of a beam.

Bells hung at the end.

The creature rose from its bone throne.

Clang.

The sound of bells echoed.

-Araarara, laralara.

A strange song emanated from the High Troll’s mouth.

It was a melody infused with mana.

Wharrr!

Then, flames roared up behind it.

The sight of it overlooking the army with the blazing fire behind it was full of majesty.

‘High Troll Shaman.’

A troll that had learned to wield the power of nature and use magical forces.

Even Sword Masters dreaded facing such an entity.

And it was right before Aden’s eyes, leading an army.

* * *

Aden quickly returned to Atilla Fortress with the investigation team and reported what he had seen.

“Is that… really true?”

Tiried Sedus asked in disbelief.

The always composed face of Tiried was now tense.

“A High Troll Shaman…”

Even Sword Masters showed such expressions when it came to a High Troll Shaman.

It was only natural.

A High Troll Shaman was a being that even a Sword Master could be killed by.

Especially if it had an army.

The power of a Troll Shaman’s spells was far inferior to a wizard’s magic.

It was limited to basic mental control and telekinesis.

But even that made the High Troll Shaman terrifying.

It could fully exert its power when it had an army.

Trolls under its mental control fought like war machines without the concept of retreat.

Trolls controlled by the Shaman shared its regenerative power, enhancing their healing abilities.

The Shaman’s telekinesis could reattach the heads of its subordinate trolls.

In other words, all the trolls could have conditions similar to a High Troll to some extent.

It was like being attacked by a horde of High Trolls.

That’s why a Troll Shaman with an army was called by a name that symbolized despair.

The Grey Immortal Legion.