The Hero Becomes the Duke's Eldest Son

Translator: Marctempest

Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 177

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**Southern Great Forest.**

This vast region was home to various beastkin tribes, including the catfolk, tigerfolk, wolfkin, and even dragonkin.

The reason the beastkin lived in the Great Forest was simple. The forest was so treacherous that only those with the beastkin's robust stamina could survive there.

In the western continent, which was dominated by humans, the beastkin were an unwelcome minority, so the Great Forest was one of the few places where they could live peacefully.

Although they were called beastkin, as one could see from Cassie, there wasn't much difference between them and humans in appearance. The most noticeable differences were their sharper fangs and the fact that they had more body hair. However, they possessed physical strength far superior to that of humans and had a unique ability called "Ferality," which activated the beast blood flowing in their veins, making them a distinct race from humans.

To adapt to the forest, they trained their strength, tamed monsters, and sometimes borrowed the power of nature to perform miracles, giving rise to figures such as shamans and beast tamers.

They chose to live in harmony with nature, cultivating the power of the wild.

However, contrary to the beastkin of the Great Forest, there were humans living in the lands to the north of the forest.

The city-state known as the Anguis Magic Tower Nation, or simply the Magic Nation.

Wizards, by nature, sought to dominate and control nature rather than coexist with it.

The basic principle of magic was to harness mana, which held the memory of natural phenomena, and process it through spells and incantations to manifest it.

Controlling and manipulating nature was the essence of magic—a power infused with human arrogance.

For this reason, wizards considered themselves the chosen elite and were often authoritative.

Those who followed nature.

Those who sought to control nature.

It was inevitable that there would be friction between these two groups, leading to a major conflict in the future.

The Great Forest Alliance's declaration of war.

Initially, the Great Forest Alliance was merely an organization for mutual exchange and communication between the various tribes, with each tribe living independently. However, the chief of a western tribe in the Great Forest began calling himself the "High Chief" and united the alliance. This led to accumulated resentment towards the wizards who had treated the tribespeople like beasts or used them as magical test subjects. The Great Forest Alliance waged war to overthrow the Magic Tower Nation.

At first, the wizards underestimated the Great Forest Alliance, but as the war dragged on, they began to realize that something was wrong.

The warriors of the Great Forest, who possessed superhuman strength, the monster armies tamed by the beast tamers, and the shamans who wielded the power of nature, made the Great Forest Alliance a formidable force.

Eventually, the Magic Tower was on the brink of collapse.

At that moment, one wizard turned the tide of the war.

The youngest Archmage, Shaura.

She ascended to the 8th circle at a young age and burned the warriors of the Great Forest Alliance to ashes with her powerful fire magic.

A significant number of the Great Forest Alliance's warriors were incinerated by her.

Afterward, with the Empire's support for the Magic Tower Nation, the war ended in a complete defeat for the Great Forest Alliance.

Since then, she had been known by two titles.

To the wizards, she was the war hero "Shaura of the Inferno."

To the southern tribes, she was the "Demon of Fire, Shaura."

---

Aden and his party passed through the Great Forest.

The vast expanse of the unknown Southern Great Forest was enormous.

A sea of trees.

The unknown forest was so vast that it could be called a "sea of trees."

Scattered like isolated islands in this vast ocean of trees were the villages of the Great Forest tribes.

Therefore, finding a tribe in the Great Forest was as challenging as finding an island in the open sea.

“But that doesn't apply to us right now.”

*Crunch, crack!*

At Ets' gesture, the trees moved on their own, clearing the path and leveling the ground to create a road.

All Aden’s party had to do was ride Choco along the path.

Elise marveled at the sight.

“Ets, how do you do that? Tell me!”

“If you sincerely wish for it, the trees will come to your aid.”

“…Really?”

“It’s something only possible for the tree fairies, so just ignore it, Elise.”

No matter how much a human wished, trees wouldn't move for them.

Well, except for some shamans in the Great Forest.

From what Aden knew, shamans, who were sorcerers that communicated with nature, were skilled at controlling trees or creating illusions.

Aden and his party followed the road that opened in real-time, heading toward Cassie's hometown, the village of the "Red Cat Tribe."

“A village where the Red Cat Tribe lives, and it's called the Red Cat Tribe Village? Isn’t that name a bit too straightforward?”

Cassie shrugged.

“Hmm. I thought the same, but since everyone already calls it that, there's no need to call it something else.”

“Yeah, that makes sense too.”

However, their journey through the Great Forest was not entirely smooth.

*Growl!*

*Shriek!*

The beasts and monsters native to the Great Forest, more ferocious than usual for unknown reasons, constantly attacked them.

But it wasn't a significant problem.

“Never thought this little critter would come in handy, Dragon Slayer.”

‘Everything has its use.’

*Wriggle!*

The Winter Hibernating Larva, as if praising itself, raised its body out of the apple.

*Squirm, squirm, squirm.*

A very potent sleep-inducing gas spread from the larva’s small mouth, slowly sinking down to the ground.

*Growl…*

*Shriek…*

*Thud, thud!*

As soon as the monster horde inhaled the sleep-inducing gas, they collapsed.

It was the sleep-inducing gas of the Winter Hibernating Larva, capable of inducing extreme drowsiness even in a master. The monsters stood no chance against it.

Of course, not all of them fell asleep.

The gas was less effective on larger and stronger monsters, like drakes or ogres.

*Roar!*

A jungle ogre roared, welcoming Aden’s party warmly.

“Nice to meet you. And goodbye.”

*Slash!*

*Gurgle!*

Aden responded to the ogre's enthusiastic greeting by slicing its head off with a single stroke.

Three seconds after it appeared, it exited the scene, meeting the same fleeting fate as the numerous large monsters that had previously given them a “friendly” welcome.

At this pace, they would arrive at the tribe’s village soon.

“I have a question.”

“What is it?”

The young saintess, Elise, blinked her round eyes as she asked Aden.

“Can’t you just use that golden key?”

“The key to Hethos’ Workshop?”

“Yeah! Just make a door and arrive in an instant! How about that?”

Elise suggested proudly, as if she had come up with a brilliant idea. Aden chuckled and shook his head.

“Unfortunately, we can’t use it here.”

“Why not?”

“There’s just a reason.”

The dwarven workshop couldn’t create a door in places where the magical energy was twisted, like in dungeons. The coordinates couldn’t be precisely fixed.

‘And the Southern Great Forest is practically one giant dungeon.’

High-tier beasts and spiritual beings reside throughout the Great Forest.

The energy they emitted and the thick mana flow of the Great Forest intertwined, forming a colossal dungeon known as the Unknown Forest.

Hence, the dwarf workshop key couldn’t be used within the Great Forest.

Elise nodded in understanding at Aden’s explanation.

“Oh! So we can enter as we please, but we can’t leave just as easily!”

“Hmm, it’s a bit different, but… well, close enough.”

The forest was vast.

However, with Ets clearing the way, Aden and his party managed to traverse a distance that would normally take at least fifteen days in just three.

And finally.

“We’ve arrived.”

They reached Cassie’s hometown, the village of the Red Cat Tribe.

But what lay before them was a forest so thick with fog that they couldn’t see even a step ahead.

“Cassie, is this really the place?”

“Yes. But this is troublesome; there’s a barrier up. Could something have happened?”

According to her, this fog was a barrier set up to protect the village.

She made a troubled face.

“It seems the village set up this barrier to protect against the fierce beasts. But at this rate, we won’t be able to get in either.”

“What if we force our way in?”

“We might get lost forever or end up back outside.”

“Ugh, that’s terrifying…”

Unknown made a face as if he had just tasted something bitter.

Cassie continued.

“I didn’t expect this… For now, waiting here and making contact with a scout might be our best option, my lord.”

“Hmm.”

Aden gazed at the fog.

At a glance, it seemed like nothing more than thick fog. But Aden could sense something through his mana sensitivity.

‘The mana is severely twisted.’

While the mana of the entire Unknown Forest was generally like that, the mana within this fog was particularly intense.

Even with his master-level mana sensitivity, he couldn’t fully grasp it.

Curse spoke.

-A masterful technique.

‘Do you know anything about this barrier?’

-I know it. They captured the flow of mana within nature and twisted its direction using the terrain. Inside, you’ll find all sorts of illusions and traps. It won’t be easy to enter.

Aden agreed.

Most people, even Sword Masters, would

 lose all sense of direction just by stepping into that fog.

To create a barrier of this level, the shaman's abilities must be extraordinary.

-But it’s useless against you.

Curse was right.

Aden spoke to his companions.

“We’re going in.”

“Huh? What? Didn’t you hear? We could get lost forever! And yet, you’re still going in?”

Unknown panicked at the idea of entering.

Cassie also looked uneasy.

“Um, my lord? Wouldn’t it be better to wait here until someone comes out…?”

“It’s too bothersome. And don’t worry.”

Ignoring his companions’ objections, Aden addressed Choco, who was carrying them all on its back.

“Choco, move forward as I say.”

*Woof!*

With everyone on its back, Choco stepped into the fog.

The thick fog was so dense that they couldn’t even see the person next to them.

But Aden wasn’t concerned.

---

*Activating the "Divine Eye."*

The eyes of the Lord of the Sacred Fire, which saw through all truths of the world.

Through these omniscient eyes, Aden observed the fog and deciphered the intricate flow of mana within.

‘The complex flow of mana is causing a disturbance in the sense of direction. All I need to do is follow these flows and walk in the correct direction.’

“Three steps forward. Then four steps to the right.”

After gathering his thoughts, Aden began explaining to Choco, who followed his instructions carefully.

“Now five steps to the left.”

“Now three steps backward.”

“Four steps straight ahead.”

Using the Divine Eye, Aden guided Choco through the fog.

Though it might have felt like they were moving left, they weren’t actually going left; and even if it seemed like they were going right, they weren’t truly going right.

Following Aden’s guidance, Choco moved forward through the fog.

After about ten minutes of navigating the bewildering fog,

“One step to the right.”

*Woof.*

At the moment Choco placed its front paw to the right, just as Aden instructed—

*Whoosh!*

The thick fog that had been clouding their vision and confusing their senses suddenly dissipated.

And then, the true scenery hidden within the fog, the territory of the Red Cat Tribe, the village of the Red Cat Tribe, came into view.

They had successfully broken through the barrier.

The party let out sighs of relief.

“We’re really out!”

“Aden-oppa, you’re amazing!”

“Haha, you really broke through it… Just like the young lord.”

“As expected of Sir Aden.”

However, the joy of breaking through the barrier didn't last long.

*Piiiii!*

A whistle sound pierced the air.

*Shhh, shhh!*

From all directions, dozens of agile men and women rushed toward them.

“Oh no! A beast has invaded the barrier!”

“Don’t let it reach the village!”

The Red Cat Tribe warriors, with hostile expressions, aimed their bows and spears at them.

Then one of them noticed Priest Bali and shouted in shock.

“No way! An ogre riding a wolf beast!”

“…”

Priest Bali found himself under sudden, unprovoked attack.