The Hero Becomes the Duke’s Eldest Son

Chapter 99

Once Radel decided to perform, her previous shyness vanished completely.

She focused all her attention on the pipa, and a serene calmness settled in her black eyes.

Drrrrrng-! Ting!

The rough introduction started briskly and provocatively.

The stimulating and unique melody spread all around.

“So, I, huh?”

“What is this?”

“Music?”

The exotic tones and melody that provided a refreshing sensation drew the attention of everyone in the shop.

In the noisy restaurant, the sounds of people talking gradually died down.

The quieter it got, the more distinct Radel’s pipa performance became.

Normally, someone would have stepped up to stop the performance in the shop.

“Ah…”

However, no one even thought to interrupt the performance and simply let out exclamations of admiration.

Everyone was deeply immersed in the exotic yet fast and rough melody.

‘Amazing.’

Meanwhile, Aden, who was listening to the music, had a slightly different look in his eyes than the others.

‘She’s infusing mana into the music.’

Each time she plucked the strings, she embedded mana into the sound, creating waves.

The amount of mana embedded was extremely minute.

However, those waves stimulated and resonated with the small amounts of mana within the bodies of the listeners.

This naturally fascinated those who heard the performance.

Through the resonance of mana, a single image was drawn in everyone’s mind.

Her small and delicate hands danced tirelessly, creating the melody stitch by stitch.

As the performance grew intense, the listeners felt their hearts heat up.

Ding, dinging, dingding, ding-!

It was as if they were in the middle of a battlefield, with blood splattering and the shouts of soldiers echoing from all directions.

Blades clashed against each other.

It felt like they were standing in the heart of the battlefield, slaughtering enemies as a general.

“Who dares to harm me?”

The general laughed arrogantly as he cut down dozens of enemies.

Within the performance, the general felt hegemonic and fearless.

People were filled with courage alongside him.

Ding-ding, dii…

But as the melody gradually slowed down and seemed about to break off, people felt their hearts cooling down, matching the precarious notes.

The heat from before felt like a lie as the chill set in.

It felt like standing in cold rain.

It became desperate and earnest, like a general embracing his dying lover on a rainy plain.

“Don’t break. Please don’t break.”

The once-mighty general appeared infinitely pathetic.

As the melody grew thinner and thinner, finally reaching the brink of breaking off completely, a simple yet intense note took over.

It was the lament of a general who had lost his lover, crying out to the heavens.

The melody changed.

It was as if all emotions were poured out at once as the performance sped up.

The tones were filled with countless questions.

The general cried out to the heavens.

“Heavens, why have you taken my precious one? I have lost the one I vowed to spend a hundred years with today! I lost half of my soul, how am I supposed to live on?”

The sorrowful wail became an incomprehensible cry.

Even that cry was drowned in the pouring cold rain.

In front of the world, his wail was nothing but noise.

Just like the cries of those whose lives he had taken.

The sound of rain filled the world, and the performance finally came to an end.

“Hoo…”

Radel exhaled and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

“…”

Even after her pipa performance ended, a suffocating silence lingered.

3 seconds.

2 seconds.

1 second.

The silence was broken.

“Waaah!”

The crowd burst into applause.

“That was an amazing performance!”

“Sniff, it was really moving.”

“Bravo! Bravo!”

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!

Applause erupted from all directions.

Even the shop owner was among them, pulling out a handkerchief and tearing up.

Bali, Lowe, and Cassie also clapped in admiration.

“That was the best performance I’ve ever heard.”

“I think so too.”

“Hmmm, me too. Little Bach, you’re amazing!”

“Huh, huh? Ahaha…”

Radel was flustered by the reactions around her, then let out an awkward laugh.

The young swordsman Lao made a fuss next to her.

“Kuh, you’re making new prisoners of your charm again today. As expected of my li… no, my little brother! Well done!”

“Sh-shut up!”

“Haha! Lao is right, what’s the problem? Honestly, you’re secretly enjoying it, aren’t you?”

“G-Grandpa Bayluk too!”

Radel’s face turned bright red like a beetroot at the two men’s teasing.

Meanwhile, Elise, who had listened to the entire performance, had tears welling up in her eyes.

“The music… is sad… sniff.”

“Oh, sorry! I should have played something lighter and more cheerful!”

“Sniff, hic.”

“D-don’t cry! Oh, here, I have a candy, you can have it. Eat it!”

“…It’s tasty.”

“Phew.”

Little Bach felt relieved after successfully comforting the little saint with candy.

Meanwhile, Aden’s gaze, watching them, became calm.

‘Yes, now I know who they are.’

Aden’s eyes were fixed on Lao, who was laughing carelessly.

The name Lao had sounded familiar ever since he first heard it.

And after listening to the performance of Radel, the girl disguised as a boy, an old rumor came to mind.

A swordsman accompanied by an elderly member of the Beast Tribe and a child prodigy called Bach.

‘The Demon Sword Ghost Lao, the winner of the Syres Martial Arts Tournament.’

It was the name of the man who won the Syres Martial Arts Tournament in his past life.

* * *

After their brief and peculiar meeting, the group finished their meal and parted ways with Lao’s party.

“Haha, it was enjoyable thanks to you! Let’s meet again if fate allows. Next time, let’s have a heated spar…”

“Oh, come on! Brother Lao!”

Lao, laughing boisterously till the end, got a playful punch from Radel on his side.

Lowe chuckled softly.

“They seem like very unique individuals. They look happy.”

“…Indeed.”

Aden felt disillusioned in many ways.

The impression of the Demon Sword Ghost he knew was very different.

The Demon Sword Ghost Lao.

As an unknown figure, he emerged like a comet at the Syres Martial Arts Tournament and won overwhelmingly.

‘And just before the Queen of Winter subjugation battle, he disappeared along with his companions.’

Accumulating achievements in battle to become a knight of Syres was a path to wealth and honor.

However, it was known that Lao ignored such matters, taking only the elixir as his prize and fleeing.

No one anticipated his actions, and by the time they realized he had fled, it was too late. They attempted to pursue him in Syres but had already lost track of him.

Afterward, the whereabouts of Lao’s party became a mystery, and naturally, people forgot about them.

‘Then, two years later, he reappeared as a crazed murderer.’

The fate of his two companions remained unknown.

But Lao’s notoriety spread because he tortured and killed people so brutally with his sword.

Hence, he earned the nickname Demon Sword Ghost.

He was so powerful that no one who challenged him survived, and eventually, the Empire’s special forces had to hunt him down, and he was barely subdued.

‘He seemed somewhat foolish earlier, but not like a madman.’

One couldn’t judge people by appearances alone.

‘To win the Martial Arts Tournament, I’ll inevitably face him again.’

It was hard to gauge his abilities just from his appearance.

Unless he was trying to intimidate, it was difficult to accurately determine his level.

Considering he won the Syres Martial Arts Tournament in his past life, he must be at least at the level of a High Sword Aura or perhaps a Semi-Master.

Although it seemed unlikely he would lose to such a frivolous person, it was wise to be prepared just in case.

“I’ll go find an inn for us to stay tonight.”

At Lowe’s words, Priest Bali scratched his head.

“Hmm, with so many people around, I’m not sure if there will be any vacancies.”

“Hmm, indeed. We might have to sleep in the carriage again…”

Puffing on her pipe, Cassie said, holding Choco, while Elise looked distressed.

“I don’t want to sleep in the carriage again…”

“Woof…”

The magical carriage made by Gustav had a small bed, so it wasn’t too uncomfortable, but it was still makeshift.

It couldn’t compare to sleeping and eating in an inn.

“No, there’s no need for that.”

Aden shook his head.

At this, everyone’s attention turned to Aden, who smiled meaningfully.

“I’ve already secured a place for us to stay.”

* * *

The affluent district within the gate city.

There was a building there.

A grand three-story mansion.

In the spacious garden, various ornamental trees and flowers were cultivated, emphasizing its wealth.

Inside, a chandelier illuminated the hall brightly.

“Wow…”

“Whoa…”

The group, entering the mansion and receiving greetings from numerous servants, wore expressions of half admiration and half bewilderment.

“It’s good that we have a place to stay…”

“To think that Aden rented out an entire villa of an acquaintance…”

According to Aden’s explanation, he had asked a close acquaintance in advance to secure a mansion for them to stay in.

Elise was just delighted at the prospect of luxury, but Priest Bali’s expression was one of disapproval.

“Using such influence during a pilgrimage…”

The primary purpose of the Sacred Fire Order’s pilgrimage was to light the Sacred Fire at the altars of the temples in the east, west, south, and north. However, its true significance lay in hiding their identities, experiencing the lives of ordinary people, understanding them, and accumulating virtuous deeds.

Priest Bali didn’t seem to see it that way, though. Contrary to his appearance, he had a surprisingly rigid side.

Well, that’s probably why he held the highest rank of monk and the position of Inquisitor.

In response, Aden immediately countered.

“It’s not like I used the Order’s influence; I used my personal connections to get this house. I’m not the one on pilgrimage, so what’s the issue?”

“Still…”

“Still, what do you mean, still? The purpose of the pilgrimage is for the saint to observe, experience, and understand the secular world, right? Do ordinary people live without connections? They thrive using familial, educational, and regional ties. In that sense, this experience is a perfect opportunity for Elise to personally witness the dirty, cunning power of connections. Where can you find a more perfect pilgrimage than this?”

“…”

It sounded like nonsensical drivel, but Priest Bali couldn’t think of a rebuttal, so he chose to remain silent.

The mansion’s butler came out and bowed politely.

“I am Paul, the steward of this mansion. The servants will guide each of you to your rooms. Dinner will be served shortly, so please rest and wait until then.”

Elise and the others beamed and followed the servants to their assigned rooms.

Aden watched them with a faint smile and was about to follow when Paul spoke to him.

“The master is waiting for you in the inner reception room. Allow me to guide you.”

With a significant smile, the butler Paul whispered softly in Aden’s ear.

“For Florence.”

This butler was a high-ranking 6-star warlock of the Flames of Florence.

This mansion served as both Niketa’s villa and a branch of the warlocks.

The warlocks’ hideout had now become the night’s lodging for Aden and the little saint’s party.