The Hero Becomes the Duke’s Eldest Son

Chapter 79

Aden entered his private training hall. He had prohibited anyone from entering, no matter what happened. This was an important task.

“Typically, martial artists who use mana only master one type of mana cultivation technique.”

If one were to engrave multiple techniques into their body, they would clash and cause chaos.

“Usually, that’s the case.”

However, if he followed this cultivation technique he understood, the results would be different.

He sat cross-legged in the center of the training hall. He felt the flow of mana within his body. Mana flowed out from the mana core, spreading throughout his body in a specific pattern. It then returned to the mana core, repeating this cycle. The flow was both gentle and fierce, like a raging wave and a sleeping lion.

‘This is the Mercenary King’s mana cultivation technique I’ve been practicing.’

It was a historically significant technique, passed down only to those who claimed the title of Mercenary King. The technique was already a complete flow, with excellent efficiency in mana use.

‘Now, let’s try following the instructions in the ancient book.’

Aden began to unfold the mana cultivation technique described in the ancient book within his body. The direction of the waves changed, and different waves clashed. The sleeping lion’s brow furrowed, baring its teeth as if it were about to wake up. Engraving another technique on a body already imprinted with one would normally lead to chaos.

His body would now suffer as the different techniques collided, tearing apart his mana veins. However, something remarkable happened.

Boom, boom, boom!

His heart and mana pulsated hotly. The different waves combined into a larger wave. A small bird sang a lullaby into the lion’s ears, lulling it into an even deeper sleep. The nameless mana cultivation technique from the ancient book seamlessly overlaid the flow of the Mercenary King’s technique. The two techniques became one.

‘……!’

Realizing this, Aden opened his eyes wide.

-New mana cultivation technique imprinted.

-Mana loss rate decreased.

-Efficiency of mana operation greatly increased.

-Mana absorption rate greatly increased.

The system message indicated that he had successfully mastered a new cultivation technique.

“Phew.”

Aden exhaled, sighing in admiration.

“……It really worked.”

When he understood the mana cultivation technique described in the ancient book, he realized one thing.

‘This technique is similar to the Mercenary King’s mana cultivation technique.’

It wasn’t just similar. It supplemented the incomplete parts of the Mercenary King’s technique that Aden hadn’t even noticed. It was a more advanced, high-dimensional technique. Therefore, it could merge with the Mercenary King’s technique.

Outwardly, there was no change, but Aden couldn’t believe the change that occurred within his body. A deep question arose in his mind.

‘How is this possible?’

The meaning of the current result was clear.

His eyes deepened.

‘This mana cultivation technique is a superior version of the Mercenary King’s technique.’

Why was such a technique sleeping in the Sacred Fire Order?

Aden looked at the mysterious ancient book with a complex expression.

Who was the owner of this book?

* * *

Although he didn’t resolve the question about the creator of the mana cultivation technique, it was incredibly beneficial to Aden.

‘Thanks to it, my mana absorption efficiency has increased several times.’

Originally, the amount of mana he could absorb per hour felt like a grain of millet. Now, it was almost the size of a pea.

Moreover, it greatly contributed to the process of absorbing the elixir.

Aden entrusted the tears obtained from the Ents to Joseph, who refined them into the highest quality elixir.

In the process of absorbing the elixir, some mana loss was inevitable.

‘The Mercenary King’s mana cultivation technique had a loss rate of one-tenth.’

Considering that other advanced techniques had a loss rate of two-tenths and ordinary techniques three-tenths, it was one of the best techniques. At least as far as Aden knew.

‘But this mana cultivation technique has a loss rate of only one-tenth of one-tenth.’

One-tenth of one-tenth. In other words, only 1% of the mana was lost out of 100%. It meant that 99% of the mana could be fully integrated into the mana core.

-Consumed highest quality elixir.

-Mana stat increased.

-Consumed highest quality elixir.

-Mana stat increased.

Thanks to this, Aden accumulated mana quickly and efficiently. Aden emptied another vial of elixir with a satisfied smile.

“Lucky.”

This highly efficient technique was worth its weight in gold. Aden had thought it would take at least a year to reach the level of a superhuman. However, the synergy between the elixir and the new mana cultivation technique exceeded his expectations. At this growth rate, he could break through the wall in half a year, maybe even sooner.

It was a fortuitous event.

However, there was one unresolved part. Two-thirds of the pages in the ancient book were blank and clean. He couldn’t understand the last sentence written in Fairy language.

He read the final sentence in the book.

_O you who listen to the cries of the world._

_O you who listen to the hatred of the world._

_Swallow the wails of lamentation and spew them out as an unyielding sword god._

_Then the flame of the dark heavens will bloom._

Curse had been dumbfounded when he saw that sentence.

-What kind of nonsense is this?

‘Nonsense, to a layman, it might indeed seem that way.’

Aden immediately recognized that the sentence was part of a mana cultivation technique. However, he couldn’t understand what it meant.

‘Is it an enlightenment?’

A martial artist who reached a certain level inevitably wrote their enlightenment in a difficult manner. How would one express fragrance in words? How would one write down beautiful music? Trying to force something that cannot be expressed in words into sentences inevitably resulted in something like grasping at clouds.

‘If I have a certain level of enlightenment, I should be able to understand most metaphors.’

His level of enlightenment was at the realm of a Sword Master. Therefore, he could quickly understand any metaphor of equal or lesser enlightenment. Aden furrowed his brow.

‘But if I can’t understand it… does that mean the old man who wrote this sentence was at a higher level than me?’

It could be a sentence written without meaning, full of superficiality. However, considering the level of the preceding techniques, that possibility was low. There was only one higher level than Sword Master.

Strengthening, Sword Resonance, Sword Aura, Aura Blade. There was the fifth realm that surpassed the four commonly used divisions.

‘The realm of transcendence, Grand Master.’

Perhaps the owner of this ancient book had reached that realm.

While mastering the mana cultivation technique, Aden realized one more thing.

‘This mana cultivation technique still has a lot of potential.’

How much potential he could draw out depended solely on his own ability. It would likely be a difficult and near-impossible journey.

“Interesting.”

Aden found it amusing.

Impossible? Difficult? If he had given up for such reasons, he would have died long ago by the Silver Witch’s hands. He would have turned to ash before the flames of the Mad Dragon, and he wouldn’t have even reached the Underlord.

“And I would have forgotten the muddy memories of the past and given up on revenge long ago. But I don’t know how to give up.”

Curse laughed softly.

-Keuk, that’s the Aden Albireo I know. Well, that’s why you were able to defeat me.

Aden muttered the last sentence.

“The flame of the dark heavens will bloom…”

He still didn’t know what it meant. However, he felt it would become a great strength in achieving revenge against his betrayers someday. Aden decided to remember the sentence clearly.

* * *

One day, while Aden was leading a fulfilling life, consuming elixirs and practicing mana breathing, he heard an unexpected request while eating ripe green grapes.

“You want to take a leave of absence for a while?”

“Yes, Aden-nim.”

Lowe had applied to Aden for a leave of absence from his position as a bodyguard. The request itself wasn’t strange. Lowe had been faithfully performing his duties as a bodyguard and hadn’t taken many breaks. It was just surprising because it was sudden and without any prior notice.

Aden observed Lowe for a moment. There was a determined look in Lowe’s eyes.

“Do you need time?”

“Yes.”

“Alright. I’ll allow it.”

Aden didn’t bother to ask why Lowe wanted a leave of absence.

‘Anyone with such eyes will surely come back having accomplished something.’

Thus, Aden readily granted the request.

“I’ll give you a month, exactly one month of leave. Take as much rest as you want and return.”

“Thank you, Aden-nim. Then, I’ll take my leave.”

Lowe bowed deeply to Aden and left.

Walking down the corridor, Lowe thought to himself.

‘Aden-nim is my benefactor and lord.’

Aden had healed his arm and taught him footwork, allowing him to become a formal knight. Moved by Aden’s actions, Lowe swore his loyalty.

‘I am Aden-nim’s bodyguard knight.’

The duty of a bodyguard knight was to protect his lord. That’s why he wanted to follow Aden to the depths of the Forest of Death before. But he couldn’t.

Because as a Semi-Master, he would only become a burden to Aden, who had reached the realm of Sword Resonance.

-You’re weak, Lowe.

Lowe couldn’t refute Aden’s words. Even if he had forced his way, he wasn’t sure he would have survived.

Crunch.

Lowe gritted his teeth. Since that day, he had painfully realized his weakness.

‘If

things continue like this, I will be no help to Aden-nim. I’ll become a useless bodyguard.’

He had to become stronger. The reason he requested leave from Aden was to reflect on himself and train to become stronger.

It would be hard to catch up to Aden-nim’s level. His potential and growth were monstrous and unparalleled.

But he wouldn’t give up. Even if he was weaker than Aden, there would surely be a role only he could fulfill. But first, he had to become stronger than he was now.

‘At least, I won’t experience the helplessness I felt in that Slash-and-Burn Village again.’

He had to become strong enough to no longer hear the words that he was weak from his lord.

‘I will definitely become stronger.’

Lowe’s eyes burned with determination.

* * *

A few days after Lowe applied for leave, Aden felt it was time to start preparing for his revenge, not just growing stronger.

He decided his first target would be the future Knight King, Sylbeta Sias.

-Why did you choose that knight brat first?

“Because he’s the easiest target.”

Relatively speaking, that is.

Knight King Sylbeta. Iron-Blooded Saint Spica. Great Alchemist Kalsis. And Archmage Shaura. All of Aden’s betrayers had monstrous abilities and forces.

For instance, Great Alchemist Kalsis was the next tower master of the Empire’s Alchemist Tower, Oroboros, and had imperial blood. At the moment, no matter how he tried, there seemed to be no way to get revenge.

But Sylbeta was different. He was merely the son of the Syres Grand Duke, not a leader of forces. No matter how strong a Sword Master he was, he would still be quite immature at this point.

“Moreover, he has a significant weakness.”

The fact that he colluded with the warlocks of Chaos. He didn’t know about the other betrayers, but Sylbeta had a weakness that made it easier to bring him down.

Aden frowned.

“If I’m going to act, I need to start now.”

The problem was finding a plausible excuse to leave the duchy again. He needed a way to act freely without surveillance or reports, even if he was away for months.

Shortly after, Aden found the right opportunity.

“Elise is going on a pilgrimage?”