The Hero Becomes the Duke’s Eldest Son

Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 52

Cabaton’s aide ran for his life, sprinting with all his might.

From the start, he had neither strength nor skill in black magic.

All a weakling needed to survive was a pair of fast legs.

“Huff, huff, huff!”

He would soon reach the exit that led to the cult.

Slash!

However, the aide fell, his neck pierced by a dagger thrown from behind.

“You sure ran fast.”

Despite wearing a mask, he had witnessed Aden.

Just in case, Aden decided to deal with him decisively.

After disposing of the aide’s body, Aden followed the secret route back into the Church as if nothing had happened.

* * *

The next day, the vice high priest was in chaos.

“What the hell is going on?”

The vice high priest shouted alone in his room, his face flushed red.

Cabaton, who had gone to meet with their collaborators last night on his orders, had lost all contact.

Betrayal? Death?

Or had something happened?

The details were unclear.

One thing was certain: no answers could be obtained from the collaborators, and the saintess’s awakening ceremony was to take place tonight.

The vice high priest felt anxious.

‘There’s no time.’

It was too late to seek help from outside.

In this situation, he had no choice but to resolve it himself, even if it was a bit risky.

The vice high priest’s eyes shone fiercely.

‘I’ll use the ones I’ve infiltrated within the temple.’

However, to ensure the plan wasn’t revealed, he needed to cut ties.

A scapegoat to bear all the blame and criticism.

‘If Cabaton were here, he would have been the perfect disposable piece.’

But Cabaton had mysteriously disappeared.

Thus, a new disposable piece had to be made.

With his black magic, he could manipulate someone’s mind and use them as a puppet.

However, the priests of the cult, who possessed holy power, needed to be gradually cursed over a long period to be controlled.

Among the priests he had prepared, there was no suitable one.

Finding someone suitable to control with black magic was challenging, as cursing those with holy power in a short period was difficult.

After some thought, the vice high priest came up with a good idea and laughed eerily.

“Yes, there’s a suitable brat.”

Someone who had learned mana martial arts but had no holy power to resist black magic.

An outsider who had stormed into the Church a few days ago.

Though he was the savior of the saintess, he was an outsider, and the duke’s brat was also famous for being arrogant and reckless.

He was the perfect bait to control with black magic and frame.

“Was his name Aden Remes?”

The vice high priest smiled slyly, unaware that it was the worst possible choice.

* * *

“I heard you called for me, Bishop Hakel. You said you wanted to speak with me alone?”

Aden had been invited to the vice high priest’s office, with tea and refreshments before him.

“Haha, Young Master Remes. Thank you for responding to my call.”

Bishop Hakel smiled benevolently, albeit deceitfully.

Aden also responded with a deceptive smile.

‘He must be quite confused since the aide disappeared without a trace. Why does he want to see me?’

Aden had disposed of the aide’s body in the sewer.

He had also taken care of any traces that might lead to suspicion.

Judging by the vice high priest’s gaze, he did not seem to suspect Aden.

If he knew what Aden had done, there would be a murderous intent behind his smiling eyes.

‘So why did he call me?’

The vice high priest’s demeanor was calm, like a fisherman patiently holding a fishing rod to catch a fish.

“I’m sorry, but I called you today to express my gratitude. Without you, there would be no hope of saving the high priest or retrieving the saintess.”

The old man was eloquent.

No wonder he could hide the fact that he was a warlock.

“I didn’t do much.”

“No, you are a hero worthy of the Sacred Fire’s blessing, Young Master Remes.”

The flattery was thick and obvious.

Aden immediately understood that this was the vice high priest’s preparation, his baiting of the hook.

‘And to fish, you need bait.’

Aden’s guess was right.

“Therefore, I have a gift I want to give you personally. I hope you will accept it.”

He took out a small wooden box he had prepared and handed it to Aden.

“Here, open it.”

The bait prepared by the vice high priest.

Aden opened the box.

Inside was a round pill.

It emitted the condensed energy of mana, forming a heat haze.

Aden had seen this item once before.

“A top-grade pill of the highest quality from our cult.”

Just by glancing at it, Aden could tell it was of the same grade as the top-grade pill Joseph had given him, perhaps even better.

It was a priceless item.

‘This old fox…’

Aden’s lips curled into a smile as he looked at the pill.

The vice high priest thought that smile was because Aden was captivated by the pill, but he was mistaken.

‘Indeed, that’s what it is. Damn it.’

It was a smile of ridicule.

Aden saw it.

Among the thick blue mana of the pill, he saw the hidden, murky aura of a curse.

-Dragon Slayer, the pill contains a curse. It’s a mental-type curse for mind control. If you absorb the pill’s energy, the curse will also settle and manifest.

Curse provided a detailed analysis of the curse, driving the nail in.

‘A mind control curse… This old man plans to use me as bait.’

He was undoubtedly plotting to assassinate the saintess and pin all the blame on Aden.

Even going so far as to use an expensive pill as bait.

“Come on, what are you waiting for? Take it. The pill’s energy is leaking out.”

“But isn’t this a precious item? Are you sure I can take it?”

“Of course. Take it quickly.”

The vice high priest urged Aden to consume the pill.

He was probably impatient inside, urging him to eat it quickly.

-Tsk… He seems to have put a lot of effort into this, but what a futile, foolish act. This warlock.

‘Indeed. It’s truly a pointless effort.’

Aden agreed with Curse’s voice clicking his tongue.

‘I have the system.’

The system had the effect of blocking all mental interference.

The curse on the pill was useless against Aden.

In other words, this cursed pill was just a top-grade pill for Aden.

It was a free treasure that had rolled into his hands.

“Refusing your sincerity would be rude. I will gladly accept it.”

Oh, bless this wonderfully foolish ‘sucker.’

Aden conveyed a heartfelt farewell to the vice high priest as he immediately swallowed the pill and sat cross-legged.

-

Like the pill he had received from Joseph, a refreshing sensation spread down his throat.

And the curse within it too.

The curse dug into Aden’s mind, trying to turn him into a puppet.

However, the curse’s actions were pitifully blocked.

The energy of the pill quickly merged with Aden’s mana, taking on the same color.

“Whew…”

As Aden exhaled, blue smoke leaked out, just like before.

The system messages popped up in quick succession.

So far, it was similar to when he had consumed the pill from Joseph in Makellan City.

But this wasn’t the end.

What? What did I digest?

<‘Banshee’s Spirit Shield’ is evolving. Rapid recovery and cooldown by reverse summoning are lifted.>

“……”

Not only had his physical stats and mana increased, but the Banshee’s Spirit Shield had also evolved.

It even gained a new ability.

He didn’t know exactly, but one thing was clear.

‘This is a windfall.’

It was a windfall, an incredible stroke of luck.

Not just a pumpkin rolling in, but dozens of them rolling in all at once.

Aden was momentarily dazed.

“Young Master Remes.”

At that moment, the vice high priest’s voice reached him.

He was no longer smiling benevolently.

The vice high priest looked at Aden with a tense expression.

“Look at me.”

He intended to check if the curse had taken hold.

“Stand up.”

Aden, expressionless, released his cross-legged position and stood up at the vice high priest’s command.

“Who am I?”

“You are Bishop Hakel of the Sacred Fire Order.”

“What is your task?”

“To follow Bishop Hakel’s orders.”

“Hahaha! Excellent. It’s working perfectly!”

The vice high priest burst into laughter.

Watching this, Aden struggled to suppress his laughter.

He pinched his thigh to maintain a straight face.

Curse was elated.

-Pfft. Dragon Slayer, that’s an acting performance worthy of an academy award!

Indeed, Aden agreed.

The vice high priest, pleased and greedy, continued laughing for a while before finally stopping.

“Now, I will give you your orders. What you must do is…”

Aden thought as he listened to the vice high priest’s plan without a hint of suspicion.

‘Sucker.’

* * *

Back in his room, Aden chuckled in disbelief.

“I never expected it to turn out like this.”

He examined the system window that appeared before him.

「[Wraith Subjugation]

An ability created under the influence of the power of gluttony and the curse’s energy. It allows you to summon and control the wraiths of the dead using the vitality of those absorbed by the power of gluttony. The wraiths will never betray the master and follow their will.

The number of wraiths summoned and their duration depend on the user’s capacity, and there is potential for growth.」

“Wraith Subjugation…”

The power of gluttony contained in the 72-blade Baalzebul.

The mental control curse of the pill.

And the Banshee’s artifact with its ability to grow with its master.

These three elements had combined to create a new ability.

-You can control wraiths without learning black magic. Remarkable.

Aden agreed.

It was common knowledge that necromancy was only possible through black magic.

This was a highly unusual case.

The ability to control wraiths was an unexpected power.

Aden decided to test the ability.

“Wraith Subjugation.”

Just one.

As a newly acquired ability, the number of wraiths he could summon was very limited.

Aden felt numerous gazes on him.

‘This is…?’