The Hero Becomes the Duke’s Eldest Son

Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 53

The grayish group surrounding Aden were the resentful wraiths of the monsters whose life force he had stolen with Baalzebul. Until now, he hadn’t realized that they had been following him all along. Perhaps other people who had killed monsters were also followed by these wraiths. There was no way to confirm it, though.

Aden pondered over which creature he had drained the life force from with Baalzebul, then lightly chose one.

“Summon Mutant Wolf.”

A small amount of mana left Aden’s body. A formless, gray mist appeared in front of Aden, gradually taking the shape of a wolf.

-Grrr.

The wolf that appeared looked exactly like the mutant wolf Aden had killed at the Attila Fortress. Watching this, Curse spoke with interest.

-Hoho, it’s a power similar to that of my kind.

Aden frowned slightly at his words. Talos were known for enslaving others’ souls and controlling them at will. It was indeed a Talos-like power, just as Curse had said. Aden didn’t like it.

“But there’s no reason not to use a power that I have.”

When Aden canceled the ability, the wolf wraith turned back into smoke and disappeared.

“It will be quite useful.”

He could only summon one at a time for now, but the number of summons might increase gradually. If he kept increasing their numbers…

‘It might become possible to summon an entire legion at once.’

Like the undead legion Niketa Florence had summoned in his previous life. At that time, Florence’s forces were on the brink of annihilation by the Empire. It had been a perfect chance to wipe them out completely. She had gambled by summoning the undead with all her might. The undead legion she had summoned at her peak was immense. Thousands of skeletons, hundreds of death knights, and even liches, banshees, and ghouls. Using all her power, she had created a legion. She stood at the pinnacle of all sorts of vile dead beings, worthy of being called the queen of warlocks.

Luckily, she had been reluctant to use necromancy due to her beliefs about black magic. Otherwise, the Empire and the warlocks might have mutually destroyed each other.

Aden felt grateful to the Vice-High Priest for this useful ability.

‘And as a price for that, I will drag you into the abyss, Vice-High Priest Hakel.’

A sly smile appeared on Aden’s lips.

To do that, there was work to be done in advance. Aden opened the window of his room.

“I know you’re watching. Come out, I have something to say.”

Aden spoke, looking at the empty space outside as if addressing someone. There was a moment of silence. Then, a white dove flew to the windowsill.

-What are you planning to do?

A woman’s voice flowed from the dove.

-Prince Aden Remes.

It was Niketa’s voice. This dove was one of the familiars she had placed to monitor Aden. Through this familiar, she would have reported everything to the order. She would likely be very angry at the Vice-High Priest’s behavior. Knowing her nature, Aden made a proposal.

“Would you like to make a deal with me, Niketa?”

* * *

The Sacred Fire Order revered the Sacred Fire. It was a divine relic left by the god and a symbol of the god’s protection over them. They had built a small chapel with a high altar to enshrine the Sacred Fire. The bearers of the Holy Mark would stand before the Sacred Fire on the night of a full moon, and the one chosen by the Sacred Fire would become a saint or a saintess.

Following this tradition, on the night of the full moon, Elise’s saintess awakening ceremony began. Dozens of high-ranking members of the order and monks, who served as guards, gathered below the altar where the Sacred Fire was enshrined. The atmosphere was solemn. Or it should have been.

“Sniff, Elise!”

“Dad, stop crying.”

“But, but our little girl is becoming a saintess. Sob.”

Joseph felt proud yet anxious, delighted yet sorrowful about his daughter becoming a saintess. He shed tears as his emotions overwhelmed him. Initially, Elise comforted him patiently, but as he continued to sniffle, she started to look annoyed. Some of the elders felt awkward and cleared their throats.

“Ahem, Brother Joseph. Please maintain your dignity in front of this holy ceremony.”

But Joseph’s sobs didn’t stop, and the monks had to gently escort him out. After a moment of odd silence, the Vice-High Priest stepped forward and spoke to Elise.

“Miss Elise, please ascend these steps.”

The altar, shaped like a pyramid, had about three hundred steps leading directly to the small chapel at the top. The monks knelt in two rows, opening the way for Elise.

“May the blessing of the Sacred Fire be with you.”

“May the blessing of the Sacred Fire be with you.”

Elise looked up at the steps.

‘They’re high.’

The grandeur of the steps exuded an aura of intimidation, as if saying she wasn’t worthy to ascend. Elise felt a bit scared but soon clenched her fists and steeled her resolve.

“I can do it.”

‘I can do it.’

Elise took a step forward on the stairs. One step, two steps. She climbed towards the altar. As Elise ascended, the Vice-High Priest reminisced about the past. He had also climbed those steps when he was a bearer of the Holy Mark. At that time, about ten people ascended together. However, in this generation, Elise was the only one climbing. He had killed all the other children.

‘Ah, how wonderful it would have been if that were me.’

‘If only I had realized the absurdity and cruelty of the world sooner and eliminated all my competitors, I could have ascended like that.’ He regretted.

The Vice-High Priest envied Elise, and therefore, he resented her. He curled his lips into a sinister smile.

‘Hehe, keep climbing. What awaits you at the end is your death.’

Vice-High Priest Hakel had preemptively placed the brainwashed Prince Remes, who had consumed a cursed potion, in the chapel. Once Elise entered, the crazed prince would kill the saintess with his sword. The saintess, the shrine maiden of the Sacred Fire, would die in front of the divine relic. It was the ultimate irony. The Vice-High Priest found that paradox delightful. With the saintess dead, the method to save the chieftain would be lost. After pinning all the blame on the Remes prince, who would then be disposed of…

‘Then I will become the chieftain!’

His eyes, soaked in envy and greed, glinted ominously.

* * *

Meanwhile, Elise finally reached the top of the altar.

“My legs hurt!”

She grabbed her trembling legs, worn out from climbing the steps.

“Ugh, why are there so many stairs…?”

With a tearful face, Elise opened the door to the small chapel and stepped inside. Contrary to the Vice-High Priest’s plan, there was no sign of Aden or even a single insect.

“Wow…”

She forgot about her aching legs and let out a sound of admiration. Moonlight poured through the skylight like a waterfall, and the Sacred Fire blazed golden beneath the moonlight.

Whoosh!

The Sacred Fire burned brilliantly without any fuel, emanating a sacred and mysterious aura. Elise, still too young to describe it in sophisticated terms, could only say one thing.

“It’s beautiful…”

Enchanted by the lovely flames, Elise stared in a trance. Then, remembering something a priest had told her, she slapped her cheek and shook her head vigorously.

-Place your hand in the flames of the Sacred Fire. If chosen, you will meet the owner of the Sacred Fire.

The Sacred Fire was a purifying flame that burned all unholy beings and energies. It wouldn’t harm people unless they had learned dark arts or harbored evil intentions. Even knowing this, it was daunting to put her hand into a seemingly hot flame. Naturally, young Elise was scared.

‘I’m nervous, scared.’

Her body tensed up. Then she remembered something Aden had said.

-You’re claiming compensation from the god for all your hardships. Think about it. Did the god suffer for you? No, you suffered. The god owes you. So there’s no need to be nervous. The god, as a debtor, should be the one nervous.

Instantly, her tension melted away.

“Hehe.”

She let out a small giggle. Right, there was nothing to be nervous about. It was advice from her brother Aden. He couldn’t be wrong.

With a smile, Elise reached out to the flames.

“God, pay up.”

She then plunged her hand into the Sacred Fire without hesitation. It felt warm and comforting, not hot at all.

Whoosh!

The flames wrapped around her as if they had a will of their own. As the fire engulfed her, Elise’s figure vanished, leaving no trace behind, as if she had never been there.

* * *

A few minutes passed after Elise entered the chapel. The Vice-High Priest sensed something amiss.

‘Why is it so quiet?’

He had instructed Aden to make Elise scream in agony. According to the plan, the monks and priests should rush into the chapel upon hearing her screams and find the blood-soaked prince. Then, using his pre-arranged subordinate, he would eliminate Aden before anyone could question it. But the silence was unsettling, and the Vice-High Priest frowned. Had Aden accidentally killed her outright?

As he pondered this, heavy footsteps echoed.

Thud, thud, thud, thud.

The gathered people turned towards the sound. About thirty individuals were approaching.

The priests were taken aback.

“Wait, who are they?”

“Why are they here, and in those outfits…?”

They wore black armor and shoulder plates, the combat gear of the Sacred Fire Order’s battle monks.

Thud, thud, thud, thud!

Leading them was the highest-ranking monk, Bali. His expression was stern and furious.

“Everyone, stop!”

At Bali’s command, the monks lined up. The unexpected situation made the Vice-High Priest irritated and uneasy. He scolded Bali.

“What is the meaning of this? We are in the middle of a sacred ceremony! How dare you show up dressed like this?”

“I am well aware. However!”

Bali shouted in a voice that could rival an ogre’s.

“We had no choice!”

In addition to being the highest-ranking monk in charge of the bell tower, Bali held another title.

“There is a heretic among us who has dabbled in darkness! Thus, I had no choice but to lead my brothers here in defiance of protocol! In the name of the Inquisitor of the Sacred Fire Order!”

He was the Inquisitor of the Sacred Fire Order. His declaration caused a commotion.

“Darkness, does he mean black magic?”

“Is there a warlock among us?”

“That’s preposterous!”

The Vice-High Priest felt his heart sink. He had no idea how this had come about. That foolish ogre, how could he know…

Desperate to maintain his composure, he shouted back at Bali.

“What a disgraceful accusation! All gathered here are devout brothers and sisters of the order! How dare you spread such rumors! Have you lost your mind? By what authority do you make such a claim?”

A voice interrupted from the side.

“By mine.”

The familiar, deep voice made him shudder.

‘No, it can’t be. Impossible! He couldn’t be here…’

Denying his thoughts, he turned to the side.

“…!”

He was stunned by the unbelievable sight before him. All the gathered priests and monks gasped in shock.

“Oh my God!”

“This can’t be!”

Their faces were filled with astonishment, confusion, and even a hint of joy and reverence.

“Chief Kertel!”

Kertel, the head of the Sacred Fire Order, who had never awakened since falling unconscious, had appeared.