The Hero Becomes the Duke’s Eldest Son

Chapter 81

Elise’s continental pilgrimage was scheduled to start in a month.

Given all the preparations needed, it would take at least that much time.

Currently, Aden was staring at an unidentified liquid inside a bottle.

Bubbling.

A thick, dark green liquid was bubbling disgustingly.

It was a new highly toxic potion made by mixing basilisk venom glands.

Aden had asked Cassie and Joseph for help, and they had finally succeeded in creating this poison after much effort.

Aden could still vividly remember Cassie’s face when he handed it over.

Hadn’t she said that she had never seen such a vicious potion in her life?

A poison so potent that even a body known as immune to all poisons could be temporarily paralyzed.

Curse spoke with a trembling voice.

-“D-Dragon Slayer, do you really have to drink this?”

“…Yes, I do.”

Aden’s heart wavered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure and steeled his resolve.

‘As expected of Kalsis’ recipe. The effect is truly outstanding.’

Just from the toxic potions he had taken so far, Aden’s body had become more activated than he expected.

It was surprising that this useless young master’s body had this much potential.

If it hadn’t been for this process, it would have taken Aden several more years to reach his current level.

Even now, his potential was clear, and it was hard to guess how much greater he would become once the process was complete.

‘Just accumulating mana isn’t enough.’

To reach a proper master level, a body with corresponding capabilities was necessary.

Despite having an excellent physique due to physical reconstruction, it was still insufficient by Aden’s standards.

Therefore, this was a necessary part of his training.

-“Dragon Slayer, please reconsider. There’s no need to go this far.”

Curse’s lowly attitude had a single reason.

‘Now this guy can feel taste and sensations too.’

Thanks to practicing the mana technique from the ancient book and consuming the elixir, the demon stone within Aden also grew.

Now, Curse could not only read Aden’s mind but also feel some of the sensations Aden experienced.

In other words, if Aden drank this, Curse would suffer immensely too.

So far, only holy potions caused Curse pain, but now even drinking poison became a torturous time for it.

Aden found this satisfying.

With a determined expression, he lifted the basilisk venom potion.

-“N-No…”

“Yes.”

Then he drank the bubbling venom straight down.

From that day on, Curse screamed twice a day.

—

About a week later.

Aden’s personal attendant, Philip, came to report to him.

“A beggar came looking for me?”

“Yes, young master.”

According to Philip, a filthy beggar had come to the Duke’s residence.

“He caused a commotion, insisting on meeting you. He claims to be the chief wizard of Anguis Tower, but his appearance is so shabby it’s hard to believe…”

Aden asked Philip.

“Did the beggar mention his name as Gustav?”

“Oh! Yes, young master.”

“You didn’t chase him away, did you?”

“N-No. He’s in the drawing room.”

“Good. Well done, Philip.”

Despite his shabby appearance, it wouldn’t be right to dismiss him without confirming the facts.

Such actions, disregarding identity verification because of a beggar’s appearance, only happened in noble families lacking proper judgment.

‘I thought it was about time.’

Gustav Dora.

The future mad mage tower terrorist.

That man had come to the Remes Ducal House.

“You seem to know him, young master,” Philip remarked.

“Yes, I’ll go see him now. Lead the way.”

Following Philip’s lead, Aden walked to the drawing room in the Remes estate.

Upon entering, there was a man who looked like a filthy beggar.

“L-Lord Remes…”

When their eyes met, Gustav’s eyes shook intensely.

Aden greeted the man first.

“It’s been a long time, Mage Gustav Dora.”

—

‘Why did I come here…’

Gustav wondered.

He had come to meet the Duke’s son with only that determination, traveling all the way to the southern frontier.

When he regained his senses, he found himself already sitting in the drawing room of the Duke’s house.

Everything in the room, from the wallpaper to the furniture, was lavish.

Amidst the opulence, he felt dirty and shabby, like an impurity.

“It’s been a long time, Mage Gustav Dora,” Aden said, appearing with his black hair and black eyes.

Gustav felt more ashamed of his appearance.

Unconsciously, he lowered his gaze and bowed his head.

“Now… I’m just Gustav.”

Expelled from the tower, he had lost the surname ‘Dora’ that he had received upon joining the tower.

The titles ‘Mage’ and ‘Sir’ were also excessive and forbidden.

Only his name remained.

As Aden sat on the sofa opposite him, he asked, “It seems something quite bad has happened.”

Unable to speak, Gustav simply nodded in affirmation.

Aden spoke in a calm voice.

“Let’s hear why you came to see me. Would you care to share?”

“…I will. Thank you.”

Gustav began to recount his story to Aden.

The story of being expelled from the tower due to an accident during an experiment.

The story of continuing his research after leaving the tower, discovering more stable techniques, and how he could make them practical if he had the funds.

The story of needing money.

“…So, Lord Aden, please, I beg you. Even 1,000 gold, no, even 500 gold would be fine… If you could support me a little, I will show results. So, please…”

A long silence ensued.

During that time, Gustav felt increasingly anxious, breaking into a cold sweat.

Aden broke the silence, shaking his head.

“That’s unfortunate, Gustav.”

‘Ah.’

Gustav sighed inwardly and despaired.

As expected, it was not going to work.

He knew it, too.

Who would invest in a failed mage, considered a madman?

Especially a half-wizard who had been expelled from the tower and had his mana sealed.

It wasn’t Aden’s fault.

Anyone would make the same decision.

But it was still disappointing.

‘Am I… just a failed mage?’

Was it so wrong to try to combine machines and magic?

Was it just arrogance?

As Gustav was about to give up his last hope, Aden spoke in a tone of disbelief.

“With just that amount, the research wouldn’t succeed. 500 gold? Are you serious?”

Aden pulled out a piece of parchment from his chest and handed it to Gustav.

“Here, take this.”

“…?”

Gustav, bewildered, took the parchment offered to him.

Then his eyes widened in shock.

“Th-This is…!”

It was a letter of appointment confirming a noble title.

And it had one person’s name written on it.

Gustav Hyde, Baron.

It was his name, along with the unfamiliar surname ‘Hyde’.

Aden spoke in a calm tone.

“I prepared it just in case. Since I heard you had left the tower.”

Originally, bestowing a title to make someone a retainer was the Duke’s prerogative.

Therefore, Aden had urgently requested it from Duke Fried.

“I wanted to give you a higher title, but baron was the limit of my authority.”

“…”

“You can rise in rank by achieving merits beneficial to the ducal house. If you don’t want to become a retainer, you can refuse. I will still support you. So, what will you do?”

Gustav, unable to comprehend what was happening, stared at the parchment.

But soon, he realized the reality.

Aden Remes wasn’t merely offering support; he was inviting him to become a retainer of the ducal house.

“Aagh, ahh, aaah…!”

He made a strange sound, as if crying and laughing simultaneously.

The despair that had been crushing him disappeared.

In its place, a warm feeling of gratitude filled him.

Tears of joy flowed down his cheeks, soaking the letter of appointment.

Thud!

He knelt before Aden and cried out sincerely.

“I, Gustav Hyde, Baron! I will dedicate myself to repaying your grace, and here I pledge my loyalty! Thank you, thank you so much! Huhuh, ahh!”

Gustav Dora, no, Baron Gustav Hyde, wept, releasing all his pent-up frustration.

Therefore, he didn’t see.

Aden’s sinister smile.

‘No, I should be the one thanking you, Tower Terrorist Gustav.’

In the future, Gustav would use his magical engineering equipment to hold out against the archmage Shaura for five minutes during his terror attack on the tower.

‘Just being able to withstand her for that long says it all.’

He was a man capable of creating such excellent equipment.

‘I’ll make good use of you, the gem in the mud that they discarded.’

Thus, Aden easily secured the greatest magical engineer.

—

“Are you sure about this, Aden?”

Duke Fried expressed concern about Aden accompanying the Saintess on her continental pilgrimage as her escort.

“Since the moment we accepted Elise into this ducal house, this was inevitable. I have to take responsibility. Besides, I’ll get to see the world.”

“Yes, you are a child with much potential, unlike your useless father. It will be good for you to see the world with all your potential.”

Duke Fried gave a bitter smile.

“While escorting the Saintess is important, you must take care of yourself first. You are the eldest son of our ducal house, after all.”

“I will keep that in mind, Father.”

Thus, the preparations for the pilgrimage proceeded without any major trouble.

Three days before the continental pilgrimage was set to begin

.

“Long time no see, Lord Aden.”

Lowe, who had been on a month-long vacation, appeared and knelt respectfully.

“I would like to accompany you as well. Please allow it. I wish to serve you by your side.”

Lowe pleaded with Aden, hoping to join the pilgrimage.

But it was a difficult request.

‘What can a guy at the Sword Resonance level do by tagging along…’

Even though that level was considered top-tier among ordinary people, from Aden’s perspective, who had slain high-ranking monsters in the underground world and killed a Mad Dragon, it was nothing more than a minnow.

Unless he awakened his Sword Aura, there was no way he could meet Aden’s standards.

But something seemed different.

There was firm confidence in Lowe’s eyes.

‘Did he realize something?’

Aden felt intrigued by the look in Lowe’s eyes.

“I will prove the results of my training over the past month. Please decide after seeing it. I beg you.”

He accepted Lowe’s request.

Aden and Lowe faced each other in the private training hall.

It was a spar to test Lowe’s abilities.

“Then, let’s see. Show me if it’s worth all that bravado.”

“I will do my best.”

And shortly after, the duel between the two began.