The Hero Becomes the Duke’s Eldest Son

Chapter 120

It was truly regrettable for Aden, but fortunate for the creature that hatched from the egg—it was not a dragon.

‘Spirit Dragon.’

That was the species name of the mythical beast that had hatched from the egg.

Among the mythical beasts, Spirit Dragons were renowned for being exceptionally rare.

As a being closely related to both spirits and dragons, its potential was boundless depending on how it grew.

It resembled a dragon in appearance, making it the most highly regarded among mythical beasts.

‘Though it’s an extremely rare exception, Leviathan is also a Spirit Dragon.’

Leviathan.

Also known as the Tyrant of the Sea, it was a thousand-year-old Water Spirit Dragon, referred to as the Blue-Eyed Spirit Dragon.

It could conjure tsunamis and summon storms at will, a disaster-level monster that could rightfully be called the God of Water.

Comparable to the Phoenix King Pyrones, it was a king-class mythical beast.

The entire sea had become an uncharted territory for humanity due to the presence of that single creature. Because of Leviathan, sea routes were severed, and exchanges with the eastern continent or other lands had long become ancient myths.

As a being with power and grandeur closest to a dragon, it was referred to by some as the ‘Conductor of the Mythical Beasts,’ mimicking the dragon’s moniker, ‘Conductor of the Continent.’

The fact that it could even be compared to a dragon indicated its immense strength.

Dragons, also known as the supreme rulers of the terrestrial ecosystem, were transcendental beings referred to as the conductors.

‘That’s why when the Berserk Dragon rampaged, the entire western continent was nearly overturned.’

At that time, sword masters and high-ranking magicians from across the western continent, along with many archbishop-level priests, mobilized. After numerous sacrifices, Aden managed to shatter the Berserk Dragon’s reverse scale and miraculously destroyed its heart.

The appearance of the Berserk Dragon was a catastrophic disaster comparable to when the gates of Tartarus opened, and the army of the Demon Lord invaded. In comparison, the Banshee Queen, the Winter Queen, was a minor incident.

– Kyuu!

“Hehe! This one’s so cute! Aden oppa. Yip! Take the tickle attack!”

– Kyu kyu kyu!

– Woof, woof woof!

The terrifying Spirit Dragon was now helplessly lying on its back, squirming under Elise’s tickle attack.

Beside it, Choco was continuously jealous, having lost its place.

Despite this, Choco seemed to instinctively recognize that the baby Spirit Dragon was a superior being and could only stomp its feet without daring to challenge it.

To an onlooker, the scene would appear as a cute and lovable pet.

Curse asked Aden quietly.

– Is that black lizard really such an amazing creature, Dragon Slayer?

“…Well, it’s still a baby.”

Aden harbored the same doubts, but there was no mistaking that it was a Spirit Dragon.

Leviathan was an extremely rare exception; most Spirit Dragons died before they could grow up.

Their slow growth and weak infancy made it difficult for them to survive the harsh natural environment without a guardian.

‘In that sense, having a Spirit Dragon hatch from the mythical beast egg is quite fortuitous.’

It was like buying a lottery ticket and winning the first prize without much thought.

Moreover, this one was particularly special.

Aden’s eyes sparkled as he watched the Spirit Dragon with amber eyes playing with Elise.

‘Frozen Mana, Poison Mana, and even Regeneration Mana.’

Aden could feel the various types of mana he had infused into the egg inside the young mythical beast.

‘Typically, mythical beasts are born with a single attribute….’

Water, fire, earth.

Spirit and mythical beasts were generally born with only one attribute.

However, thanks to the various energies Aden had infused into the egg, the baby Spirit Dragon had all the mana attributes he possessed.

It was as if another Aden had been born.

‘It will be incredibly useful in future battles.’

Though it was just a baby mythical beast for now, its essence was an ethereal body composed of energy.

Depending on what it was fed and how it was raised, it could grow quickly and powerfully.

Elise, who was playing with the black baby dragon, suddenly asked Aden.

“Aden oppa. What’s this one’s name? I’m curious!”

– Kyu!

At Elise’s question, Aden scratched his head, realizing he had forgotten about naming it.

“A name? Hmm. I haven’t really thought about it.”

Having been preoccupied with the fact that a dragon hadn’t hatched, he hadn’t thought of a name at all.

Aden stroked his chin and looked at the black baby dragon.

– Kyu!

The baby dragon tilted its head at Aden’s gaze, blinking its large amber eyes.

“Hmmm, a name….”

The baby dragon’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as if it understood Aden’s words.

Aden pondered deeply before blurting out, “Dragonie? Or maybe because it’s black, Blackie. How about that?”

– Kyuuwuuu…!

The Spirit Dragon puffed up its cheeks and flapped its wings furiously, expressing strong disapproval of Aden’s crude naming sense.

– Dragon Slayer, please think more seriously.

‘Why? What’s wrong with it?’

– Are you naming a puppy? What’s with Dragonie?

‘Simple names are best, you brat.’

Aden wanted to name it Dragonie or Blackie, but the dragon’s intense objection and Curse’s intervention made him give up.

“Tch.”

Aden frowned and pondered over the name again.

A name, a name… a name….

Then after a while.

“Leo.”

– Kyu?

“Leo. Let’s go with that for this one’s name.”

Aden decided to name the dragon Leo, taking the last part of his previous surname, ‘Albireo.’

Albireo.

The surname he had gained in his past life after slaying the Berserk Dragon.

It was somewhat ironic to name the Spirit Dragon after that surname.

“Kyuu…kyu kyu?”

The baby dragon seemed to ponder its name for a moment, then nodded with a ‘kyuu!’ indicating it liked the name Leo.

Thus, the name of the black baby Spirit Dragon was set as ‘Leo.’

– The unnamed Spirit Dragon has accepted its name as ‘Leo.’

– The contract with the mythical beast ‘Leo’ has been established.

A system message appeared.

– Kyu. Kyuuwu!

Leo’s body glittered and transformed into blue light particles that swiftly entered Aden’s body before he could react.

Elise was startled by this.

“Leo disappeared! What happened?”

Aden was equally confused.

What on earth happened?

– Kyukyu!

From within Aden, Leo’s cry could be heard.

– Huh? Dragon Slayer, is that lizard inside here?

– Kyu kyu!

– Stay away from me, lizard!

Aden sensed Leo’s presence from the Blood Jewel where Curse resided.

At the same time, he could feel the thoughts of the Spirit Dragon Leo.

“It’s cozy and comfortable there?”

– Kyuuwu!

Just then, an additional system message popped up.

– You have achieved the title ‘Master of Mythical Beasts’.

[Master of Mythical Beasts]

Mythical beasts are special and powerful beings that can traverse both the terrestrial and spirit realms.

However, it is natural for all beings born from eggs to be weak as infants. A weak baby Spirit Dragon requires a guardian to protect it. By naming a mythical beast, you become its contractor.

This title is given in recognition of hatching and completing a contract with a mythical beast.

The Spirit Dragon ‘Leo’ recognizes you as its parent and nest.

It can be summoned at any time and will usually reside within you, drawing on your energy to grow.

Aden’s eyes widened as he read the system explanation.

‘Recognizes me as its parent and nest?’

The Spirit Dragon, born from Aden’s energy, would reside within him, drawing on his power constantly.

The Blood Jewel, an alternative mana organ created by the Thunderstorm Knight Sylbeta to fix his mana circuits, served as a reservoir for his surplus energy. It made sense that Curse, an ethereal being, had instinctively dwelled there and that the Spirit Dragon, who thrived on its master’s energy, liked it too.

– Kyukyu kyuuwu!

– Grrr, go away! You insignificant lizard!

– Kyu yuuuu!

Curse, now forced to share its space, grumbled irritably, but that wasn’t the important issue.

– The completion level of the ‘Unfinished Blood Jewel’ has increased!

‘Goodness…’

Aden immediately felt the changes occurring within his body.

Up until now, the Blood Jewel Aden possessed was more or less useless.

It was an almost complete but still unfinished piece of junk, with only its form and framework in place.

However, as soon as the Spirit Dragon Leo entered, it was as if the missing piece of the puzzle had been found and slotted into place.

– The ‘Unfinished Blood Jewel’ has transformed into the ‘Completed Blood Jewel.’

– The ‘Completed Blood Jewel’ is now active!

Thump-thump!

As the mana veins pulsed, mana flowed throughout his bloodstream.

A mana organ was essentially a second heart for mana.

Just as a person can’t have two hearts, there could only be one mana organ in a human body to store and manage the flow of mana.

Thump-thump-thump.

Thump-thump.

Despite this fundamental truth, Aden’s body now resonated with two distinct pulses of mana.

The system delivered its verdict, cementing the reality.

– The ‘Blood Jewel’ now functions as a mana organ.

– The ‘Blood Jewel’ stores mana!

– The permissible amount of usable mana has significantly increased!

Two mana organs.

Something every mana practitioner dreams of but considers impossible had happened to Aden.

“This can’t be…”

“Aden oppa! Where did Leo go? Huh? Huh? He’s not dead, right?”

Elise’s anxious cries brought Aden back to his senses.

There was still more to confirm.

“…Leo, come out.”

– Kyu kyu!

Poof!

At Aden’s call, Leo reappeared, flapping his tiny wings.

“Leo came back?”

– Kyu kyu!

– Woof woof!

“Thank goodness! Leo, are you okay?”

– Kyu kyu kyu!

Elise cheered at Leo’s return, while Choco barked in surprise.

Aden examined his body.

As soon as Leo emerged, the Blood Jewel ceased its activity again.

It was now clear.

Aden’s eyes deepened in thought.

‘Leo’s presence completes the Blood Jewel.’

Leo would absorb Aden’s residual energy and grow.

And Leo could function as Aden’s second mana organ, serving as a vessel.

In other words…

‘I can borrow the mana that Leo holds.’

Realizing this conclusion sent shivers down Aden’s spine.

This was something inherently impossible.

A summoner, who expends energy to control their summon, using the summon’s mana?

‘It’s like a perpetual motion machine. How could that be?’

If such a thing were possible, the world would be ruled by summoners and spirit mages.

It was a unique convergence of the Spirit Dragon’s peculiar traits, Aden’s Blood Jewel, and an extraordinary series of coincidences.

‘Leo is still a young mythical beast.’

Leo’s potential for growth was nearly infinite, and the mana he could accumulate would also be near limitless.

Aden could now access this virtually boundless mana.

‘As Leo grows, the amount of mana I can use will also increase.’

That realization alone…

Aden’s lips curved into a very satisfied smile.

“I’m lucky.”

Everything had gone extremely well.

– Kyu kyu!

Aden looked at Leo with eyes as if he were gazing at a treasure chest.

Hatching a mythical beast’s egg.

The gamble that was essentially a lottery for mythical beasts.

There was no better grand prize than this.