The Hero Becomes the Duke’s Eldest Son

Chapter 113

Those who manipulated mana, converting accumulated mana into aura for martial arts, were called ‘Mana Warriors’.

Among these Mana Warriors, there was a saying:

“Mana is alive.”

Mana absorbed the soul’s enlightenment, attributes, properties, and will of its previous owner.

Therefore, mana seemed to have its own will, like a living being.

And for a Mana Warrior to subjugate such mana was to impose their will upon the will contained within the mana.

But this was incredibly difficult.

To control mana imbued with will, strong mental fortitude and mana control were necessary.

Thus, most Mana Warriors chose to absorb the colorless and odorless mana of nature, accumulating it within themselves.

“But human greed knows no bounds.”

Some Mana Warriors desired mana with special attributes or wanted to accumulate mana rapidly, like how Aden subjugated the regenerative mana or poison mana of specific monsters into his body.

“But this is dangerous.”

Although Aden easily subjugated the regenerative mana of a troll or the poison mana of a basilisk, for an ordinary Mana Warrior, it was unimaginable.

If humans find it hard to control their own will, how much harder would it be to control the will of mana?

Thus, those with weak mana control or mental fortitude would find their minds devoured by the mana.

Such individuals became puppets of mana, rampaging uncontrollably.

“That’s mana rampage.”

Thus, with weakened mental fortitude and failed mana control, he was devoured by the mana of the Blood Jewel monster.

The result was the Lightning Knight in front of him, experiencing a mana rampage.

– Kyaaaahhhhh!

His whole body bulged grotesquely as veins protruded like cobwebs, and his muscles swelled.

His eyes turned blood-red, and the Lightning Knight, with blood-colored aura spilling from his body, let out a monstrous roar.

There was no trace of the rationality and intelligence a human should possess.

He looked no different from a monster.

“He’s completely being controlled by his own mana.”

The mind of a superhuman warrior was already a completed mental world.

For someone with such a strong mind to be devoured by his own mana was nearly impossible.

“But his mental strength had already been severely weakened.”

His mana organ, vital to a Mana Warrior, had been damaged, leading to frequent seizures and pain.

Even the position he always believed to be his, the next Grand Duke, was now in jeopardy.

His only support, the Queen of Winter subjugation, had also been aborted.

Due to various factors, he had fallen into severe madness.

“Moreover, he implanted a failed product into his body.”

The failed Blood Jewel contained the fierce and unstable mana of various monsters.

The only will left in the Lightning Knight, devoured by monster mana, was the instinct to destroy.

– Krrrrraaaaah…!

In his mana rampage, the Lightning Knight condensed a lightning-like energy into his claymore.

Crackle!

He created a massive aura pillar over 3 meters tall and swung his sword toward Aden.

Rumble! Boom!

Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!

Aden quickly rolled to the side to avoid the attack, and the sword of lightning tore through the ground in a straight line, making a thunderous noise.

The destructive power was terrifying.

The power of his attacks had multiplied several times in his mana rampage.

– Kraaaaak!

The Lightning Knight, again, released a mana-filled roar and wildly swung his aura blade at Aden.

However, his movements lacked the skill he originally possessed, and he swung his claymore like a mere club, following only his instincts.

Because of this, Aden could easily read his movements and evade the attacks.

Bang! Boom-boom-boom!

Crash! Thud-thud!

The missed sword strikes extended outward, destroying the terrain in the form of lightning.

The destructive light reached the Frost Fortress, crumbling its walls.

“Kyaaaak!”

“Ev, everyone, take cover!”

“Sir Sylbeta! Please, come to your senses!”

Screams and dying cries of knights echoed everywhere.

And the lightning aura extended to where Sylbeta’s subordinate knights were, mercilessly crushing them.

Avoiding the Lightning Knight’s attacks, Aden observed the scene with cold eyes.

“He can’t even distinguish friend from foe.”

The fate of those in a mana rampage was twofold.

First, they would not withstand the rampaging mana, their bodies bursting, leading to an explosive death.

Second, they would completely lose their reason, becoming slaves to mana, rampaging until all their vitality was exhausted and they died.

Either way, death was certain.

– Kahaha-!

He laughed.

In the future, he would be known as the Knight King, the lord and object of reverence for all knights, Sylbeta Sias.

But now, he was in a mana rampage, killing his knights and laughing maniacally.

“Sylbeta, is this the power you sought so desperately?”

Aden had predicted this outcome from the moment he read the Black Knight’s memories and defeated the Queen of Winter.

However, seeing this prediction come true in front of his eyes left Aden feeling more empty than satisfied.

The monster rampaging before him no longer bore any resemblance to his friend and betrayer, the Knight King Sylbeta.

The Knight King was no longer there.

Only a beast consumed by power remained.

Aden felt that the existence known as the Knight King Sylbeta had completely vanished from this world.

“Still, I must end this.”

Even though he would eventually die, until then, he would destroy everything in sight, including the Frost Fortress, and possibly massacre everything down south to Feralas.

Aden decided to end it here.

– Kraaah!

Sylbeta roared ferociously and stomped the ground.

His body quickly approached, and the roaring aura and murderous mana prickled Aden’s skin.

Crackle!

The Lightning Knight, now close to Aden, swung his claymore, and the aura blade of red lightning poured towards Aden.

The waves of bloody lightning surged towards him.

Facing the unavoidable waves of death, Aden poured all the remaining mana of Baalzebul’s Sword into his sword.

A hundred echoes overlapped.

A thousand reverberations roared.

Ten thousand sword screams surged.

Krrrrr…

Baalzebul’s Sword, dyed red, emitted a dragon’s cry-like eerie and bizarre sound.

Fwoosh!

The blazing aura blade like a dragon’s breath.

Dragon Slaying Swordsmanship, Scale Cutter.

Not the minor version used against the Guildmaster Umbra, but a complete Scale Cutter.

“Haaah!”

The fatal sword, capable of severing a dragon’s reverse scale, surged forward.

The red line pierced through the waves of red lightning and reached the Lightning Knight.

At that moment, Sylbeta, drowned in madness, briefly regained his reason.

“…A dragon?”

A dragon of red flames, ready to devour him.

The majesty of the fiery dragon overwhelmed the Knight King, leaving him unable to counterattack.

That was his last memory.

The Scale Cutter engulfed the Lightning Knight.

Boom-boom-boom-boom!

Dust rose from the impact.

After a while.

As the dust settled, the two figures became visible.

The Lightning Knight, Sylbeta Sias.

The eldest son of the Syres Grand Duke family and the supreme commander of the Frost Fortress.

The strongest knight who would have been known as the Knight King, a Sword Master.

Sizzle…

His chest was charred black, with a large hole blown through it.

The aura that had been flowing from his body rapidly diminished.

– Ugh…

His blue eyes lost their light.

A deflated sound escaped his lips.

Thud!

He collapsed, lifeless.

“Phew…”

Aden, panting heavily, looked down at Sylbeta’s corpse. Then, he plopped down into the snow.

– Are you alright, Dragon Slayer?

“Damn it… I’m exhausted.”

Aden frowned deeply.

His entire body felt heavy, like soaked cotton.

No matter how strong Aden was, fighting the Lightning Knight was quite challenging.

“Though it wasn’t that difficult either.”

He fought with a sword to give him despair, but if necessary, he could have summoned a wraith or Pyrones and ended it quickly.

The surroundings were quiet.

Due to Sylbeta’s rampage with his aura blade, all the knights were either dead or reduced to a pulp.

“Finally, one down.”

One of the four betrayers from his previous life, the Knight King Sylbeta Sias, was dealt with.

Curse asked Aden.

– So, how does it feel to get your revenge?

“Well…”

It didn’t feel as exhilarating or euphoric as he had expected.

“He probably never knew my true identity.”

Sylbeta would have died hating the existence of ‘Aden Remes’ to the end.

Not ‘Aden Albireo’.

That fact left a bitter taste.

“Well, I don’t regret it either.”

Sylbeta committed many inhuman acts, such as the Sacred Fire Order incident, the Blood Knights, and the Forest of Death incident.

If left alone, he would have been a threat not only to Aden but also to Elise and the others.

Moreover, if Sylbeta had stopped at an appropriate point, he wouldn’t have taken his life.

“Living as a cripple without mana would have been more satisfying revenge.”

Even if he lost his mana, he would have continued to enjoy life as the eldest son of the Grand Duke’s family.

But he didn’t stop and attacked Aden and his companions.

They fought back and won, that was all.

Aden felt a sense of accomplishment for simply doing what needed to be done.

With a tired and weary expression, Aden put his hand on his stomach and muttered.

“Ah… I’m hungry.”

He thought he should return to the Sacred Fire Order’s temple and eat something.

But first, there was something he needed to check.

“Hey, Rabbits.

Did you record everything well?”

– Of course, customer! Hehe.

The rabbit spirit merchant, Rabbits, popped out of the air, holding a recording orb.

Rabbits was very polite to Aden.

Thanks to the corruption exposure incident, Rabbits had been promoted to ‘Intermediate Merchant’.

Rabbits laughed and shouted.

– I recorded everything perfectly from start to finish, Aden customer!

“Good, that’s a relief.”

– Dragon Slayer, what are you up to now?

“What do you think?”

Aden grinned meaningfully.

“I’ll sue for damages, of course.”

* * *

The next day, shocking news spread throughout the Syres Grand Duchy.

– The eldest son of the Syres Grand Duke family, the Lightning Knight Sylbeta Sias, is dead.

The death of the Grand Duke’s eldest son and his knight order shocked everyone.

Who was he?

He was the one who had slain the Frost Ogre Lord seven years ago, building his reputation and being hailed as the next Grand Duke who would protect the Grand Duchy.

The death of such a Sylbeta was like a bolt from the blue for the people of the Grand Duchy.

Naturally, questions spread among the people.

Why did the Lightning Knight die?

And why did all 100 of his knights die as well?

Two days later, the Grand Duke’s family issued the following statement.

The eldest son of the Grand Duke’s family, Sir Sylbeta Sias, entered a new realm and fell into a mana rampage.

Due to the rampage, his knight order was caught up and annihilated.

The story was based on some truth.

The mana rampage and the resulting deaths of the knights.

However, the cause of the rampage was changed to a failed mana control while entering the realm of a high Sword Master.

“It had to be.”

Aden had immediately visited the Syres Grand Duke’s family and met with Grand Duke Vernon.

He brought with him a recording orb capturing the scene where the Lightning Knight confessed his crimes and attacked Aden.

He also brought circumstantial evidence gathered from the Kertel cult incident to present as proof, leaving no room for doubt.

It was clearly the Grand Duke’s family’s mistake.

However, the Grand Duke could not publicly admit that his eldest son had colluded with a warlock, committed unethical acts, and attempted to attack Aden Remes and the Sacred Fire Order, which had saved the Grand Duchy from the Queen of Winter.

Such a revelation would disgrace the Grand Duchy’s honor.

Knowing this well, Aden negotiated with Grand Duke Vernon.

In the delicate situation of potentially antagonizing one of the continent’s three major orders, the Grand Duke had no choice but to comply with Aden’s will for the sake of the Grand Duchy.

Thus, an official statement based on truth but devoid of substance was announced.

Coincidentally, Aden Remes, the conqueror of the Queen of Winter, who was invited to the feast at Frost Fortress, fought a fierce battle with the rampaging Sir Sylbeta and subdued him.

However, unfortunately, in the process of subduing him, Sir Sylbeta tragically passed away.

People did not blame Aden for the death of the Grand Duke’s son.

No, they could not blame him.

Mana rampages of Sword Masters were extremely rare but not unheard of in history.

Sword Masters who had fallen into mana rampages had caused tens of thousands of casualties.

There was even a case where a small kingdom was destroyed.

A rampaging Sword Master was a disaster in itself.

If the rampaging Sylbeta had descended upon a city, the number of deaths would have been unimaginable.

Thus, people praised Aden Remes for stopping such a disaster.

The remains of Sylbeta Sias were given a national funeral, and naturally, the position of the next Grand Duke passed to his only son, the Spear Knight, Dayer Sias.

The Grand Duke’s family honored Aden’s achievement with this declaration.

Our Syres Grand Duke family expresses our gratitude and respect to Aden Remes for preventing our Grand Duke from staining his hands with the blood of our people.

Hence, we hereby announce that Aden Remes is the rightful owner of the newly named Frozen Autonomous Territory and will be its lord.

The Grand Duchy promises not to interfere in any matters within the Frozen Autonomous Territory for the next ten years and will provide protection and support.

Frozen Autonomous Territory.

A new name was given to the once frigid land where the Queen of Winter’s domain had been established, rich with rare minerals.

A land under the Grand Duchy’s protection, exempt from its laws.

In other words…

“Now, I can do whatever I want there.”

It was time to develop the mana stone-rich land.