The Hero Becomes the Duke’s Eldest Son

Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 59

Benefactor of the church.

It was something he had heard before from Vice-High Priest Hakel.

However, the feelings conveyed by those words were entirely different and profound.

The value of words varied greatly depending on who said them.

“Young Lord Remes, if it’s alright, may I ask you something?”

“What do you want to ask?”

When Aden asked, the High Priest remained silent for a moment.

Then, feeling a bit hesitant yet compelled to ask, he spoke.

“Why didn’t you run away at that time?”

When the Talos appeared, everyone fell, and there was no visible way or hope to win.

The High Priest had asked Aden to escape.

Aden was an outsider, not a member of the order.

But why did he, merely an outsider, step forward to save them and the order?

The High Priest was asking this.

Aden pondered silently for a moment.

He had fought against Talos because it was impossible to run away.

Various calculative reasons flashed through his mind, like doing it to bestow grace upon the order.

But Aden knew those were not the true answers.

Looking at High Priest Kertel Jin, Aden answered his question.

“Does a person need a reason to help another person, High Priest?”

In the past, High Priest Kertel had answered Aden similarly when treating him.

Aden returned those words to him.

“A mercenary must be thorough with their promises.”

High Priest Kertel had shown kindness to Aden in the world before his regression, and Aden had promised to repay that debt.

And he was only able to fulfill that promise after dying once.

Immediately after, Aden chuckled and said,

“Moreover, Elise and Joseph are still guests of Duke Remes’ house. So, I’m not an outsider either.”

The High Priest blinked in slight surprise at Aden’s words.

“……You’re right, Young Lord.”

He soon smiled gently.

Afterward, they discussed what to do with Elise.

As Aden had said, Elise was a member of the Duke’s house before she was a saintess of the order.

High Priest Kertel Jin acknowledged this fact.

He was someone who understood.

And frankly, Aden had no intention of letting go of this connection.

‘The saintess being a member of the Duke’s house means the order also becomes an ally of the Duke’s house.’

The significance of this was enormous.

The High Priest spoke.

“Saintess Elise is practically the future of our order. To learn the education and history of the order she missed out on, it is principle that she stays with us. However…….”

He gave a wry smile.

“Our order has already failed to fulfill its duties and trust due to the bloodshed ten years ago and this recent incident. In this situation, it wouldn’t be right to keep the saintess here against her will. Therefore, I would like to request to establish a branch of our order in Duke Remes’ territory.”

He wanted to allow Elise to stay there as an envoy of the order.

Through the branch, they would support continuous saintess education and provide full protection.

“I have already discussed this with the members of the Seven Star Council. What do you think?”

Establishing a branch of the Sacred Fire Order in their territory.

If a branch of the order was established, naturally, there would be an increase in the flow of people, and deaths from disease or injury would drastically decrease.

Many nobles coveted having a branch in their territories, so branches were usually only established in free cities or powerful large territories.

Such a facility was being offered to Remes’ territory.

This was an opportunity so beneficial that the Duke’s house should bow down in gratitude.

“On behalf of the Remes territory, I, as the eldest son, agree.”

“Hoho, excellent.”

It was a matter so urgent that asking for Duke Remes’ permission would have been a waste of time.

“Young Lord Aden, merely expressing gratitude in words is not our order’s way.”

Looking at Aden with firm resolve, he declared.

“We will show you the highest sincerity that our order can offer.”

He had a very bright expression as if indicating that Aden could look forward to it.

* * *

Aden asked,

“Why did you bring me here?”

Currently, Aden was in the sanctuary where Elise had undergone her saintess awakening ceremony.

In the center, the golden Sacred Fire was burning.

Originally, only the High Priest and those with the Holy Mark were allowed to set foot here, but Aden was permitted by the High Priest’s authority.

The High Priest tapped the walls of the sanctuary and then asked Aden instead.

Tap, tap.

The sound echoed in the sanctuary.

“Young Lord Remes, haven’t you ever wondered why the altar, where the Sacred Fire is enshrined, is so high?”

It was indeed a thought he had while climbing up.

No matter how sacred the holy relic was, he thought there were too many stairs.

“Most members of the order and even the high-ranking officials believe it is to get closer to the Sacred Fire, which is like the heavens. That’s not entirely wrong.”

The High Priest continued tapping the walls as if checking something.

Tuk-tuk.

Then he found a spot where the sound was oddly different and pushed it hard.

Then…….

Thunk, click!

A part of the wall caved in.

Rumble.

Clank.

Then, as the place vibrated, the sound of something mechanical turning could be heard.

Rumble.

The round floor within the small sanctuary.

It began to descend slowly on its own.

“What on earth……?”

Aden couldn’t help but be astonished.

At first, he thought it was magic, but he felt no mana presence.

The building itself was turning and moving.

The High Priest calmly continued.

“But in truth, there is a more important reason hidden. This is a fact that only the High Priest of our order knows.”

The floor continued to descend.

Descending, and descending further.

Thud.

When the floor finally stopped, they were in a vast hall.

It was a hidden space within the altar.

Fwoosh!

Lamps around the place lit up on their own, illuminating the surroundings.

And the revealed sight was astonishing.

Inside, there was a pond.

In the pond, mystical fish swam, and around it, rare flowers and plants grew, creating a paradise-like scene.

“Elixirs?”

Just by sensing the energy, Aden could tell they were natural elixirs filled with mana.

Natural elixirs were growing on their own.

And towering shelves the size of mountains stored mysterious books and items.

Aden couldn’t tell what expression he had right now.

But looking at him, High Priest Kertel Jin gave a mischievous smile.

“Welcome to the secret archive of the order, Young Lord Aden.”

* * *

The Sacred Fire Order had a culture and disposition somewhat different from the western continent’s customs.

The reason was that the roots of the order originated from a foreign continent.

“A long time ago, the ancestors of the order crossed over here to spread the teachings of the Sacred Fire. The ancestors settled on this land, established the order, and it has continued to this day.”

And the place where the ancestors’ belongings brought across the continent were stored was this secret archive.

Over time, important books and items of the order were accumulated in the secret archive, creating its current scale.

“There are items with dangerous curses here, so be careful, Young Lord.”

The High Priest guided Aden, explaining as he went.

They passed through the maze-like storage area of the secret archive heading somewhere.

“This place gathers the sacred energy of the Sacred Fire through a formation created by the ancestors. As you can see, natural elixirs and mystical creatures grow here naturally.”

Natural elixirs and mystical creatures grew here.

This was something neither any magic tower nor any holy nation, not even the imperial family, had succeeded in.

But who would have thought that the Sacred Fire Order, considered the weakest among the three great orders, had such a facility hidden?

‘And those items on the shelves…….’

There were books, swords, armors, and accessories.

Each item exuded an extraordinary aura.

Kertel said this place was only known to the High Priest.

Surely, even the Vice-High Priest in the original future wouldn’t have known about this place.

These items held value beyond measure.

Therefore, Aden found the High Priest’s actions somewhat perplexing.

“Is it okay to reveal this so casually? Even if it’s as a reward.”

Aden could tell at a glance.

This place was a secret that any power would covet.

However, the High Priest’s expression remained calm.

“If I had died as it was, this place would have been forgotten forever. So, if I can repay my benefactor, both the Lord of the Sacred Fire and the ancestors will understand.”

“Showing me this place means…….”

“It means I want to give you something among these items, Young Lord. Ah, we’ve arrived.”

He stopped in front of a treasure chest near the end of the maze.

From it, he took out a leather pouch and a roll of silk.

He pointed to the leather pouch.

“This is a subspace pouch that the order accidentally acquired about a hundred years ago.”

“……!”

Aden’s eyes changed at the mention of a subspace pouch.

A subspace pouch was an artifact found in very small quantities from the ruins of the Sacred Era.

The inside of the pouch was connected to a subspace where time was stopped.

Because of this, there was no limit to what could be stored inside, and items wouldn’t spoil.

The conventional wisdom of magic was that time, space, and creation couldn’t be interfered with.

However, many artifacts from the Sacred Era defied such norms.

A subspace pouch was worth a mansion.

The High Priest then pointed to the silk.

The silk had a subtle green hue and a glossy shine.

“This is silk known to be woven by fairies. Each strand of this silk contains mana.”

Fairy silk was famous for its elegance, unparalleled by any other silk.

Furthermore, it contained mana, making it fireproof and resistant to blades.

Clothes made from fairy silk could easily be imbued with aura, serving as top-notch armor.

In the past, there was even a time when fairy hunting was rampant to monopolize this silk.

“I present these two items to you, Young Lord. They are rewards for saving our order, so please do not refuse.”

A subspace pouch and fairy silk.

Both were items of immeasurable value.

Most people would hesitate here, feeling a burden even if they coveted them internally.

“Thank you.”

But Aden was far from such people.

It was best to accept things when offered.

This was a practical adage he had learned during his mercenary life.

He accepted the items while calmly expressing his gratitude.

‘A subspace pouch and fairy silk. I’ve gained something good.’

He was lucky.

He had been thinking about acquiring a set of armor anyway.

The subspace pouch would also be of great help in the future.

“Thank you for the gifts. However, I have one request.”

“What is it?”

Aden looked at the pond in the archive. Around it were elixirs shimmering with auspicious mana.

“Can I eat ‘some’ of the elixirs here?”

Seeing Aden’s gaze, the High Priest hesitated for a moment before nodding.

“Hmm, alright. As much as you want.”

Fortunately, High Priest Kertel agreed readily.

“Are you sure I can eat as much as I want?”

“Hoho, of course. I promise in the name of the Lord of the Sacred Fire.”

The elixirs growing here would grow again as long as the Sacred Fire didn’t go out.

And unless something special happened, they wouldn’t be taken out.

One person’s consumption wouldn’t make a noticeable difference.

However, seeing Aden’s sly smile, the High Priest dismissed it as his imagination.

But soon, High Priest Kertel would regret his words.